The Mission of the Maine Nurse Practitioner Association is to:
Unite and advocate for nurse practitioners in political, professional and policy arenas.
Develop and coordinate educational and networking opportunities.
Advocate for the health of all the people of Maine.
Congratulations to two Maine Nurse Practitioners
 Recognized for their Excellence at the

________________
________And two others were inducted into the Academy_
     Deborah Ann Hoch was recognized with this year's NP State Award for Excellence.  Kathleen Forti-Gallant was awarded this year's Advocate State Award for Excellence.
     Nancy Tkacz Browne and Valerie J. Fuller both inducted into the academy.
     For more details and photos, click here.

 President Obama Signs Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA)
Qualified NPs Authorized to Prescribe Suboxone

    With the support of U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), the U.S. Senate in July passed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (CARA), legislation that will help fight back against the opioid and heroin crisis raging across Maine and the nation. The legislation, which earlier passed the House includes several provisions backed by Senator King.
     In a statement following the vote, Senator King applauded the Senate for its work but said that more must be done because CARA does not actually appropriate any new funding to stem the epidemic.  “There’s no question that this legislation and the policy changes it enacts are a significant and important step forward – but it can’t be our last,” Senator King said. “What is happening across Maine – the overdoses, the deaths, the broken families, the struggling communities – demands more from us. It demands real funding right now. Without it, we’re failing to meet our obligation to stand by our friends and neighbors in fighting this epidemic. I am pleased the Senate passed this bill, but I hope we will back it up with actual money – not just talk – because this is about saving peoples’ lives.”
     For full details, read more.
    

Are you interested in Integrative/Functional Medicine?
Long-standing MNPA Kathy Coleman, ANP is a member of the Integrative Wellness Council of Maine.  She would like to extend participation in the council's work to the nurse practitioners of Maine.  Please check out the website and feel free to contact either: Tisha Bremner, council chair, tisha@integrativewellnessme.com, or Meneah Haworth, meneah.haworth@gmail.com for more information.

The Integrative Wellness Council of Maine is a group of like-minded medical providers and holistic health practitioners who are joining together in an opportunity to network and create a platform for continued community support and education of the ways in which complementary and alternative therapies may help our patients, clients, and students lead healthy, well, and whole live.

We would love to see more APRN's involved with the Integrative Wellness Council of Maine!
Home Health Care Bill Introduced by Senator Susan Collins
S.578 Would Permit NPs to Certify Medicare Patients for Care

     On February 26th, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Charles Schumer (D-NY) introduced S. 578, the Home Health Care Planning and Improvement Act of 2015. This legislation, once enacted, will have an immediate impact on the quality of life and timeliness of care for Medicare patients by allowing NPs to certify home health care orders.
Currently, NPs are recognized under state laws and regulations that allow them to complete and sign physical examination forms and other medical certification documents.  However, under current Medicare law, NPs with patients who need home health care services must locate a physician who will document the NP's assessment for this care.  Enactment of the Home Health Care Planning and Improvement Act of 2015 would make it possible for NPs to provide the required certification for Medicare patients under their care.  Passage of this legislation will reduce Medicare spending by eliminating duplicative services while also improving the quality and timeliness of care for beneficiaries who need home health care services.
     MNPA thanks Senators Collins and Schumer for taking this important first legislative step toward improving patients' lives, and the organization pledges its continued support for swift action this year.  For more information on S. 578, click here. 
     We ask that you contact your Senators and ask them to support this important legislation.
 
 Home Health ICD-10 Handbook 2015
With the healthcare industry on edge over preparations for the ICD-10 transition, now is the critical time for home health coders to master the new code set. Don’t wait to update your agency about the code structure differences and the changes to commonly-used home care diagnosis codes.  This handbook will help you make the transition from ICD-9-CM to ICD-10-CM.
For more information about this handbook or to order, click here.
 

 

MaineCare Reimbursement Update

Back in April, we received an email from a MNPA member regarding what looked like a reduction in MaineCare rates paid to certain categories of NPs.  Since then we have had discussions with the Director of MaineCare Services, Stefanie Nadeau and her staff, leading to a face-to-face meeting to help Bob Howe and Pam Cahill better understand MaineCare reimbursement issues as they relate to NPs. 

Read more...