Washington State Chapter of NAPNAP
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Spring update for CE and Legislative issues

Posted over 5 years ago by Karen Kilian

Dear WA State NAPNAP Members,

Below are updates in regards to our CE events schedule this spring; as well as legislative updates as of March 2020.  It has been a wild, interesting, winter....let's all hope that April Showers will indeed bring May Flowers and COVID relief!

CE Update:  

1) The All in for Autism 5k has been cancelled.

2) Our board has decided to postpone its annual Spring Conference due to the ongoing spread of COVID-19. Rather than cancelling it all together, we are hoping to just push the date back by several months to September 30th. We may need to change the date again, depending on world events, but we are going to remain hopeful for the time being!

If you would like to cancel your registration for a full refund, please let our team know. However, if you would like to attend our conference on this new date, no need to do anything and we will transfer your registration over.  Stay Healthy and please reach out if you have any questions or ideas for conference or CE topics.

Legislative Spring Update:

Below you will find both exciting and heartbreaking updates regarding our legislative efforts. On one hand we have made great strides to correct our home health ordering fiasco for Medicare patients, but sadly the Governor has vetoed many incredible accomplishments this session including the extension of post-partum coverage for those on Apple Health. These supplemental operating budget vetoes will ultimately reduce state spending in order to address the financial impact of COVID-19. With the current state of emergency in response to COVID-19 I have also included resources below regarding age parameter for PNPs in the state of Washington.   

Home Health Ordering

  • WA State Health Care Authority (HCA) as of April 3, 2020 has changed administrative codes to allow ARNPs and PAs to order home health services for Medicare patients in accordance with the federal CARES Act (section 3708). NO physician signature needed! 
  • This public health emergency rule is temporary but permanent change is mandated to occur withing 6 months of passage of the CARES Act.
  • Find full text of WA State Emergency rule here: https://www.hca.wa.gov/assets/103E-20-09-016.pdf
  • Find full text of CARES Act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/748/text 

Vetoes

  • Extending coverage during the postpartum period (SB 6128): Aimed to extend postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months. Passed in both the Senate and House. VETOED by the Governor.
  • Supplemental operating budget: Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) rate increase VETOED. Reach out and Read funding VETOED, however Washington State reading corps funded.

Age Parameters