July was a historic time for the nursing profession and healthcare in Pennsylvania. Our state legislature approved several of the first bills that are a part of Governor Ed Rendell’s Prescription for Pennsylvania healthcare reform plan, including those that expand the scope of practice for nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, midwives, dental hygienists, physician assistants.
To celebrate this milestone, on July 20 Governor Rendell once again came to our School, where he signed the bills into law. In January, we were excited to host the governor, honored guests, and a standing room-only crowd when Rx for Pennsylvania was unveiled at our School. It is wonderful to see that, with the passage of some of the plan’s components, Prescription for Pennsylvania is coming to fruition.
The governor’s plan is important, not only because it will increase access to affordable medical coverage for uninsured Pennsylvanians and allow all healthcare workers to play an expanded role delivering healthcare services, but also because it places Pennsylvania at the forefront of the nation’s healthcare reform initiatives.
Across the country, elected officials are debating similar legislation. We applaud Governor Rendell for being a visionary and making the hot topic of healthcare one of his administration’s top priorities. We thank him and our state representatives for understanding the capabilities of nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and midwives by providing measures in the laws that allow these licensed professionals to use their education in providing evidence-based practice that is not limited because of outdated regulations.
This is just the beginning of healthcare reform in Pennsylvania. For complete adoption, the plan will require the passage of almost 50 bills and the creation of numerous new rules and regulations. At the School of Nursing, we have been actively involved in working for the plan’s approval as it relates to nursing, nurses, and midwives. We established two taskforces that have closely followed the legislative process, contacted elected representatives from across the Commonwealth to encourage their support of the bills, and informed students, faculty, staff, alumni, and the public about the importance of this historic plan and the significance of having their voices heard by their representatives.
We will continue to follow with great interest the progress of the additional components of the Prescription for Pennsylvania plan. For updates, I encourage you to visit http://www.rxforpa.com/.
