Mary Jane Concengco
1840 Cherry Ridge Dr.
Heathrow, FL 32746-1990
(407) 549-3708
May 25, 2010
The Honorable Chris Dorworth
Florida House of Representatives
District Office
Suite 205
1055 AAA Drive
Heathrow, FL 32746-5072
Re: House Bill 677
Dear Representative Chris Dorworth,
As a Florida resident and as a resident in your district number 34, I am writing to ask for your support in regards to the House Bill 677 which provides Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners (ARNP) the authority to prescribe controlled medications. There will be an increase in accessibility to appropriate, proficient, cost-effective, and timely health care for all Floridians upon the passage of this bill.
As a registered nurse who regularly encounters and collaborates with ARNPs to efficiently provide quality care to patients in the acute care setting, I find it very important that in the given times where the challenges of the new Federal Health Reform Bill unravels before our eyes, that we remember the contributions nurse practitioners have provided and will continue to provide for all those living in the United States. It is with hope, especially in Florida, that this bill passes, so that the true essence of being a nurse practitioner, as originally designed to provide primary care in response to the physician shortage, can fully be utilized.
I am also a patient who benefits quality health care from my nurse practitioner, due to the unavailability of my physician. And because of the inaccessibility of physicians for health care needs, the roles of ARNPs are crucial to provide primary care and acute care in any health care setting, especially in underserved areas. There are only two states, Alabama and Florida, that limit and prohibit ARNPs the authority to prescribe controlled substances. Due to the prevention of ARNPs the prescribing rights of controlled substances, patients and families suffer delays in treatment and incur additional costs when they are referred to the emergency room, or wait for another physician to re-evaluate, or have to resort to another physician off site.
By allowing ARNPs full prescriptive rights, you will be helping to reduce cost to the state budget, by reducing emergency room visits and increasing access to quality health care through ARNPs in various managed health care clinics. In fact, the Florida Senate recommends extending authority to Florida-licensed ARNPs who have attained certification in a nursing specialty from a nationally recognized certifying entity to prescribe controlled substances under protocols and within the scope of practice for their specialty.
According to the Florida Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses, which includes the Florida Nurses Association and the Florida Nurse Practitioners Network, the Florida Senate Interim Report of 2009-117 reported that out of the 48 states that have authorized nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled substances, claims that there has been no evidence that nurse practitioners are more susceptible to diversion of controlled substances than physicians.Therefore, it is not a matter of safety, but a matter of responsibility.
Again, as a Florida resident, a practicing registered nurse, and as a patient, I urge you to support House Bill 677 to allow nurse practitioners prescriptive authority for controlled substances.
Thank you.
Respectfully,
Mary Jane Concengco
(Electronic signature)