General Notes:
The Northern Virginia Region aims to have 5 meetings per year in the odd months Sept-May. Members receive a newsletter via email with meeting announcements and RSVP link.
We have a regional Facebook group with updates. Search VCNP-Northern Virginia Region under groups in Facebook to join.
New member questions – Brittany Adams Brittany.a.adams11@gmail.com
VCNP-Shenandoah Region
April 2019 Meeting Minutes
April 18, 2019
Members in attendance: Monica Heck, Erin Morris, Barbara Call, Diana Oddenino and Maretta Yoder
NP Students in attendance: Sarah Gibson and Maria Circosta
Meeting Location: Taste of Thai Restaurant. Harrisonburg, VA.
Business Meeting:
-9/19/19-sponsored by Sanofi Pharmaceutical. Diabetes Management.
Location: Montpelier Restaurant in Harrisonburg, VA.
-11/21/19– Allison Chupp NP will speak about opening her own practice/clinic.
Location: TBD.
The meeting was then adjourned.
Respectively submitted.
Maretta Yoder, Secretary
VCNP-Shenandoah Region
February 2019 Meeting Minutes
February 21, 2019
In attendance: Erin Morris, Monica Heck, Mary Atkins, Maretta Yoder, Barbara Call, Andrea Knopp, Heather Camp, Holly Kellett, Tamie McDonald-Brower, Haley Tusing, Melody Mast, Sharon Zook, Diana Oddenino, Pamela Gipson, Donna Thacker and Victoria Krauss
NP Students in attendance: Sarah Gibson, Maria Circosta, Jae Anaza, Hannah Ferguson and Kelsey Fortin
Meeting Location: Bella Luna Restaurant. Harrisonburg, VA.
Meeting Topic: Holly Kellett NP presented a talk on Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Business Meeting:
-4/18/19– Antipsychotic Medications in Dementia by Rimma Wolfe, Pharm D. Location TBD.
-9/29/19-sponsored by Sanofi Pharmaceutical. Diabetes Management. Location TBD.
-11/21/19– Speaker and location TBD.
Andrea Knopp mentioned having an independent NP present to the group regarding her personal experience. We will check with Allison Chupp NP to see if she is available and willing to discuss opening her own clinic.
The meeting was then adjourned.
Respectively submitted.
Maretta Yoder, Secretary
The frequency and offerings of the monthly meetings was discussed. Consideration of having large venue meetings with CEs a few times a year vs dinner meetings monthly was discussed. Since we have meetings already set for April, May and June, it was decided that we would plan a larger venue meeting in July with CEs, a speaker or two and see how that goes. Cardiology Associates of Fredericksburg was considered as our first choice since the doctors offered to host a meeting for us in the past. Tiffany will talk with her co-worker about contacting CAF to host the meeting, then we will decide about catering, and speakers. After that event, we will regroup in August to get ready for our September legislative event at the Moss Clinic. Mailings to reach all NPs in the Fredericksburg area, and the barriers to increased members or participants was discussed.
During the July event and the Legislative event, we plan to have postcards from the VCNP with bulletpoints regarding: what does the VCNP do for you? How do I get involved?
Plan a celebration of autonomous practice NPs.
Board Members for 3/2019- 3/2020:
President: Linda Hazelgren
President-elect: Vacant
Program chair: Lisa Keel (with assistance from new member Natalia Giscomb-Simons)
Public Relations: Timmye Ross
Conference Chair: Hishani Perera
Membership: Nicole Brooks
Treasurer: Tiffany Simons
Secretary: Piper Schlesser-Foresman
Legislative Chair: Cathy Duncan
Submitted 3/12/19 JPSF
The positive progress continues!
We are pleased to inform you that our reimbursement bills – House Bill 1640 and Senate Bill 1178 – have once again been warmly received by committees in both chambers of the Virginia Legislature!
In light of the February 5th “crossover,” all bills passed on the House side during the first half of the General Assembly session are now being considered in the Senate, and vice versa.
On Monday, February 11, 2019, HB 1640 was reported from the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee with a vote of 13-0, while SB 1178 passed out of the House Commerce & Labor Committee with another unanimously positive vote of 22-0 on Tuesday, February 12th.
Since the two bills were reported without opposition, we anticipate that they will be added to the Uncontested Calendar in the House and the Senate. Ultimately, should this legislation become law, it will go into effect on October 1, 2019.
On January 31st, our reimbursement bills – HB 1640 and SB 1178 – were heard in the Virginia House and Senate Commerce & Labor Committees.
SB 1178, sponsored by Sen. Glen Sturtevant, faced no opposition and was passed unanimously by the Senate Commerce & Labor Committee by a vote of 15-0. Similarly, during the House Commerce & Labor Committee meeting this afternoon, the companion bill HB 1640, sponsored by Del. Margaret Ransone, was reported by the Committee 19-0.
In both committees, the bill was amended so that the legislation does NOT require a study by the Health Insurance Reform Commission (HIRC) – thereby moving our legislation forward to the House and Senate floors!
We are delighted by these positive developments. Since the bills were reported without opposition, we anticipate that they will be added to the Uncontested Calendar in both the House and the Senate. Ultimately, should this legislation become law, it will go into effect on October 1, 2019.
As of January 7th, HB 793 regulations are in effect! Nurse practitioners with five or more years (that is, 9,000 hours or more) of clinical experience are now able to submit their applications for autonomous practice. You may find the attestation form and instructions for applying on the Virginia Board of Nursing website.
We will soon be debuting a special FAQ, as well as a “Roadmap to Autonomous Practice” that will outline the application process in an easy-to-read format. Further, don’t forget to register for one of our informative Town Hall webinars! Though the January 10th session is now full, space is still available on January 15 and January 30.
Join us for an evening of recognition and celebration of accomplishments Nurse Practitioners have achieved. VCNP will recognize members and present association awards. Special prizes will be presented to participants, and the regional baskets will be given away.
2019 VCNP Annual Conference registration is open! Register now for the conference and be part of this special event. Registration is not required to attend.
For more information, or to register for the 2019 VCNP Annual Conference, click here.
Share your VCNP stories and pictures! If you are a photographer on the side and are willing to participate by capturing the evening, please let us know!
Share your memories and talents! Send to amy.sales@easterassociates.com
Governor Ralph Northam has officially signed the emergency regulations for HB 793! The regulations will go into effect on Monday, January 7, 2019. Per the Board of Nursing’s update, “[t]he application process will be implemented on or before 1/9/19,” at which point NPs throughout the Commonwealth will be able to apply for autonomous practice licensure.
The regulations will be published in the Virginia Register on January 21, 2019, after which a public comment forum will open, remaining open through February 20, 2019. The Board of Nursing has also noted that their staff will provide a report about autonomous practice application process at the February 13th Joint Boards of Nursing and Medicine meeting, which will be open to the public.
Though we have not yet seen the attestation form, Jay Douglas, Executive Director of the Board of Nursing, has indicated that the form “will mirror the law and regulations” and will be posted on the Virginia Board of Nursing website in the near future.
Questions about the legislation and what autonomous practice licensure means for you? Join us for one of three town hall webinars in January! Click on the date you are interested in for more information and to register:
Hishani agreed to take on the Conference Committee position.
Karen reported that if you have not renewed your membership, please do so ASAP. Membership numbers are down all across the state, possibly due to the new cycle with increased fees that was not explained well via media.
Remember to contribute to the PAC.
NP week is 11/12-11/19/18.
Cherie distributed blue ribbons to wear for NP awareness.
The state bylaws are changing regarding elections. VCNP want uniform elections across the state.
Linda has been elected president, she will serve one year, then the president will serve a 2 year term after that.
State conference nominations are due.
The Fredericksburg region needs to develop a timeline for the conference in March. Any significant happenings in the region should be put on the timeline. Piper agreed to start the time line, since she has been the secretary since inception.
Karen questioned if everyone received the email survey, and asked everyone to be sure to complete it.
Our regional membership is #58
We have purchased a list of the NPs in VA from the state for communication purposes.
Easter Associates is looking into an automatic renewal application.
A special interest group of NPs for independent practice is forming. This would be helpful even if you never plan to work completely independently.
in December, the joint boards of nursing and medicine will meet in Richmond to discuss HB 793 and the attestation form. There will be a $100 fee for attestation. 9,000 hours will be required for attestation.
In the future, NPs will not need a separate license for prescriptive authority, this is being eliminated.
Tiffany reports the treasury has received thank you notes from Empower House and Micah Ministries for the contributions made to them for our philanthropy this year.
The next meeting will be 12/10/18 place TBD, on injectable migraine med.
Submitted 11/14/18 JPSF