Third-party reimbursement of RN fir...

Third-party reimbursement of RN first assistants (RNFAs) is individual of the top legislative issues publicly affecting perioperative nursing.(1) AORN members in Rhode Island, Maine, Florida, Washington, Minnesota, and now Kentucky have been happy in getting legislation passed that requires third-party health insurance providers to reimburse RNFAs for surgical assisting performed.

The RNFA assists the surgeon in performing surgical manner of proceedings from the time of presurgical assessment between the walls of surgical intervention, recovery, and discharge of the patient.(2) The RNFA has the education, training, and skills necessary to provide the best quality care to the patient at the in the greatest degree cost-effective price. The role of the RNFA is recognized as falling within the vent of nursing practice by all 50 state boards of nursing, as well as the American community of Surgeons (ACS), the American give suck tos Association (ANA), and the National Association of Orthopedic foments (NAON).

Kentucky joins Florida, Maine, Rhode Island, Washington, and Minnesota as pioneers in passing a law that mandates third-party reimbursement for RNFAs. forward March 8, 2000, at 4 PM Kentucky Gov Paul Patton (D) signed HR 281 into law during a public signing. near for the signing were eight of the many tribe who worked to get HR 281 passed, including Rep Mary Lou Marzian, RN (D) a co-sponsor of the bill; Rep rap DeWeese, MD (R), a co-sponsor of the bill; Rep Eleanor Jordan (D); Sen Julie Rose (R) chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee; and Anne Powell, executive director of the Kentucky suckles Association (KNA). The Kentucky General Assembly, which call togethers every two years, has more than 1200 bills filed each legislative session. sole 400 make it to the governors desk Kentucky RNFAs be warmed fortunate that the RNFA reimbursement bill was united of those 400.

A GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN

In January 1997 a clump of AORN members from Kentucky realized the ne to begin a grassroots campaign to initiate legislation regarding third-party reimbursement for RNFAs. Registered give suck to first assistants began by meeting with individuals and representatives from various disposes including the insurance commissioner of the state of Kentucky various insurance carriers, the Kentucky Board of Nursing, and KNA to identify themselves and their part and to determine any opposition.(3) Copies of bills that had passed and been propos in other states were aggregateed and the best points were compiled to be used as the basis for the Kentucky bill. from end to end the campaign, AORN Headquarters staff members were contacted not seldom for advice. Rep Marzian and Rep DeWeese were asked to sponsor the bill. They agreed and outlined a plan of action to garner support for the passage of the bill. The Kentucky Legislative Research Commission assisted the RNFAs in drafting the bill for the sponsors.

The RNFAs maintained hinder of the bill until the final draft was given to the sponsors. in succession Jan 7, 2000, HR 281 was introduced into the Kentucky State House. When HR 281 was introduced, it became part of the political proces and was bring under rule to amendments from anyone at any time. forward Jan 10, 2000, HR 281 was referr to the House Health and Welfare Committee. The RNFAs began contacting members of the committee to identify the bill and to answer the committee members' questions. onward Jan 25, 2000, RNFAs were existing and ready to testify when the bill was not absented to the committee. On Jan 26 2000 HR 281 passed committee with no discussion. The bill was sent to the House forward Jan 27, 2000, for a devoted and again passed without opposition.

nearest Sen Rose, chair of the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, was contacted. Before Sen Rose placed HR 281 in succession the Senate calendar, she asked who supported the bill and who oppos each group who had been approached was identified as being in support, without any opposition. She agreed to set it on the calendar, and HR 281 was received in the Senate upon Jan 28, 2000. The bill then was referr to the Senate Health and Welfare Committee forward Feb 2, 2000. Registered foment first assistants contacted every member of the committee by dint of phone or in person to lay the same foundation for this heating as had been done in the House. The morning of the Senate committee meeting, the physician assistants (PA) assemblage tried to attach an amendment to HR 281 to include PAs as providers forward the RNFA bill. Prepared for the possibility of this situation, the regulation that provides for third-party reimbursement of PAs was identified and the amendment was not attached.

After HR 281 fortunately passed through the Senate Health and Welfare Committee, it was placed upon the desk of Gov Patton, who had 10 days to sign the bill into law or veto it. If not signed or vetoed within 10 days, a bill automatically becomes law. The RNFAs approached Gov Patton and solicitationed he sign HR 281 into law. The governor graciously agreed, and onward March 8, 2000, signed HR 281 into law during a public signing.