Health Policy Chair Report
Keeley Harding
Happy New Year! I’ve been busy learning my new role as Health Policy Chair (with the help of MaryAnn Rosencrans—thank you!). I have also been busy as the new Regional 10 Legislative Liaison. I have completed my first goal as the Regional 10 Legislative Liaison, which was to establish a communication network among Region 10 State Chapter Representatives. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the purpose of the Regional Legislative Representative Network, I will briefly explain. It’s a network established by National NAPNAP to allow for the rapid dissemination of information regarding legislative issues. National has comprised 12 regions, which in Ohio, we are part of Region 10. Region 10 consists of Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and West Virginia. Besides informing you of issues in our own state, I will also share issues as they arise in Region 10 (as well as the other regions).
One of the first issues that needs addressed affects all regions. The State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP or CHIP) is projecting a dip in funding (both at the state and federal levels) and an associated projected loss of 900,000 or more enrollees. For more information please read the Special Report on SCHIP at We need membership support! Our Washington Representatives have begun advocacy for sustained funding for SCHIP.
And now on to more issues…
SB 245 (physical bill)
SB 245 was unanimously passed out of House and Senate. The bill was signed by Governor Taft on December 30, 2002. It becomes law April 1, 2003. There are 27 new physicals that APNs will be permitted to do/sign for. Some of these physicals include people applying for positions as police officers, firefighters, volunteer firefighters, village marshals, night guards, special police officers, bakers and mine rescue crew members. Also included are annual physicals for school bus drivers, as are other types of physicals including those for people within the juvenile justice system, rape kit physicals, student proof of age physicals, commercial driver’s license physicals, physicals required to validate the health of a consumer or the necessity of operation of a consumer’s medical or life-supporting equipment with regard to utility shut-off.
If you are interested in thanking those who worked so hard toward the
bill's passage you can do so by using the following addresses:
State Senator Lynn WachtmannState Representative Merle Grace Kearns
Ohio Senate Ohio House of Representatives
Senate Office Building 77 South High Street
Statehouse Columbus, OH 43215
Columbus, OH 43266-0604
Bethany Rhodes
Legislative Aide to SenatorWachtmann
OhioSenate
SenateOfficeBuilding
Statehouse
Columbus, OH43266-0604
Medical Malpractice Bill (SB 281)
Has been successfully amended by OAAPN to include the term APN into the bill
*This bill intends to slow the growth in medical malpractice insurance premiums by limiting the amount of money juries may award claimants for non-economic damages (e.g., pain/suffering)
NATIONAL ISSUES
There will be a re-introduction of legislation (HR 1509) by Lucille Roybal Allard (D-CA) who is committed to creating a National Media Campaign to prevent underage drinking.
DAY AT THE STATEHOUSE (2 CEUs)
The Ohio Association of APNs (OAAPN) has graciously extended an invitation to all Ohio NAPNAP members to attend their “Day at the Statehouse” event on Thursday, March 11, 2003 from Noon until 7pm. All registrants will earn 2 CEUs while learning how to talk to your legislature, APN issues that are currently pending in the legislature and other important issues. The cost will be minimal and will include a luncheon and an evening legislative reception where most of the Ohio General Assembly will be present. Please join me in this exciting opportunity for APNs to become more familiar with their legislators and for legislators to get to know APN constituients and advanced practice nursing in general. For more information, please check out OAAPN’s website at
IMPORTANT DEA# INFORMATION
Do you have your DEA number? The DEA application CANNOT be completed until the actual CtP (certificate to prescribe) has been received from the Ohio Board of Nursing. You may not prescribe ANY schedule/controlled drugs until the DEA number is secured. At times, a retail pharmacy may use the DEA number as a unique identifying number in their computer systems. This is a retail practice and is not a requirement for APNs to prescribe (for further information, please see the article in this newsletter by MaryAnn Rosencrans).
How do I obtain a DEA number? Answer: Complete the required forms and pay an application fee of $210 (renewal is every 3 years). Remember! The DEA number must be reported to the Ohio Board of Nursing within 10 days. There are two methods for applying:
- Call 1-800-882-9539 and request application (through automated system) to be
mailed to you (may take several weeks to obtain application)
2.Complete the application online then print it out (or print blank application and complete by hand), add your signature, attach fee and mail to the DEA (quickest method but must have Adobe Acrobat). For online application, go to then select “Registration Applications” then follow the instructions for DEA form 224
**”Registration Classification” has four parts (1) Business Activity (make sure you mark an X in “Mid-Level Practitioner”, specify degree as “NP” (2) Order Form Books (leave this blank) (3) Drug Schedules (mark an X in all boxes—OH APNs are schedule II-V), & (4) License and Authorization (APNs mark an X in box for “license number” and in the blanks write in your CtP number & under “State Controlled Substance Number” mark N/A).
DO NOT SEND IN DEA APPLICATION WITHOUT THE CtP NUMBER ISSUED FROM THE OHIO BOARD OF NURSING