Download Drs. Herson and Ehrenkranz's letter of explanation on the new NICU Discharge Guidelines in the Word .doc format!
Download the new NICU Discharge Guidelines in the Word .doc format!
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Pediatricians on Capitol Hill
LATA JAYANTHI, M.D.
I recently attended the 1999 Legislative
Conference of the American Academy of
Pediatrics in Washington, D.C., May 16-19,
1999. Dr. Martha Leonard, co-chair
of the Government Liasion
Committee and I were the two
pediatricians sent from
Connecticut.
The purpose and
focus of this meeting is
to train pediatricians for greater advocacy for children
in the public arena, i.e.: with the legislators and law
makers who represent us in the U.S. Congress. While
advocacy for children is the primary purpose of those
lobbying skills, Joel Alpert, President of AAP
reminded us that to serve children, we also need to
fight for proper and timely reimbursement.
One of the most interesting and educational parts
of the meeting is the mock hearing session and the
meeting with the "representatives". While they were
fun, outrageous tales were made up, and a great deal of
acting worthy of the Academy
Awards went into it.
There was an
underlying seriousness to the
sessions that taught us how to be
effective lobbyists in the cause of
the children.
At one of these mock meetings,
the "representatives" were stone-walling
the "pediatricians" at
every point. Nevertheless, those of
us observing watched in admiration
as pediatric lobbyists circumvented
every obstacle and were still able to make their
points in advocating for children. The very next day, Dr.
Leonard and I had the opportunity to practice those
skills in a similar situation with real legislators. Again, I
watched as Dr. Leonard flawlessly kept bringing the
conversation back to the child health issues that we
were there to discuss.
All in all, it was a well spent three exhausting
days in the Capitol. The AAP training is offered every
other year. Those interested in attending future sessions
should contact Dr. Leonard or Dr. Robert
Zavoski, the Chairs of the committee, or Jillian Wood,
the Chapter's Executive Director.
Highlights from the 1999 Legislative Session
Tobacco Settlement Funds
The legislature placed $5 million of
the tobacco settlement money into a
nonlapsing Tobacco Grant account
to be used for reduction of tobacco
abuse through prevention,
education, cessation, treatment,
enforcement and health needs
programs. The legislature also
established the Tobacco and Health
Trust Fund, a separate nonlapsing fund, into which
will be transferred $20 million for each fiscal year. The
legislature’s stated intent is to expend these funds on
health-related programs.
Pesticides In Schools
The legislature limited, for the first
time, the ability of schools to apply
pesticides around schoolchildren.
The act requires schools to use
certified pesticides applicators and
forbids application during school
hours or planned school activities.
The act requires schools to keep records for five years.
Finally, the act requires schools to notify parents and staff
who request notification prior to a pesticides application.
The act encourages integrated pest management (i.e., pest
control with minimal use of pesticides) by reducing the
notification burden on schools that practice integrated
pest management.
Zero Tolerance Laws
The legislature corrected certain
loopholes in the existing zero
tolerance laws. Specifically,
legislation establishes penalties for
teens who refuse to take blood
alcohol tests, strengthens license
suspensions for teens convicted of
driving with elevated blood alcohol levels, and applies the
rules and procedures applicable to adult proceedings for
driving under the influence to zero tolerance proceedings.
Advanced Practice Nursing
Legislation passed permitting
APRNs to work in collaborative
relationships with physicians, rather
than under their direction. A
collaborative agreement that relates
to prescriptive authority must be in
writing. The act also requires
APRNs to have professional liability
insurance.
Managed Care Accountability
An omnibus bill passed that makes
numerous changes in the regulation
of managed care companies and
insurers. The act establishes parity
for mental health and substance
abuse treatment and mandates
coverage for certain experimental
treatments, diabetes self-management
training, prostate
cancer screening and Lyme Disease,
among others. The Act establishes
an ombudsman to assist managed
care consumers. The act also
requires payment to providers
within certain time frames. The
act establishes several procedural
reforms to the companies’ coverage
determinations and internal appeals
processes. Finally, the Act requires the Department of
Public Health to develop and publish profiles of state
licensed physicians that include information concerning
education, practice, certifications, medical malpractice
history, disciplinary actions, criminal convictions, hospital
privileges, as well as other information.
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