Author: Moore on Health™

As a Nurse Practitioner I am delivering healthcare services, namely, providing evidenced based health promotion, primary prevention, disease and medical practice management.

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SB 323 (Hernandez and Eggman)

Support SB 323 photoFull Practice Authority for Nurse Practitioners

Purpose – Senate Bill 323 will allow California’s approximately 22,000 Nurse Practitioners (NPs) to practice to the full extent of their education and training. This new law would ensure access to the health care delivery system and help the millions of Californians who now have access to coverage through the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Increased coverage and quality care will also save California money over the long run.

SB 323 will grant NPs full practice authority, under a specified scope of practice, if he or she has national certification and liability insurance. Specifically, this bill:
1) Permits a NP to practice without physician supervision if the NP is certified by a national certifying body, maintains professional liability insurance that is appropriate for his or her practice setting, and is practicing in one of the following settings:
  • An accountable care organization, as specified; or,
  • A group practice, a medical group, or an independent practice association.
  • A clinic, health facility, or county medical facility;

2) Specifies the scope of practice for NPs. Specifically, permits and independent NP, in the listed above, to perform services that are widely agreed to be the extent of services that NP perform today.

3) Requires a NP to refer a patient to a physician and surgeon or another licensed health care provider if a situation or condition of the patient is beyond the NP’s education or training. 

4) Requires these NPs to have medical malpractice insurance
Email you local California elected Senator and/or Assemblymember and ask them to support Senate Bill 323 by voting YES!
Click on this site and enter your California address and click to find your
State Senate and Assembly representatives.
 http://findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov

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APRN BUTTON IN COLOR PICMoore On Health believes that the CURES Database is a best practice for Nurse Practitioners. CURES is the acronym for Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System  California’s prescription drug monitoring system. 

According to the State of California Department of Justice Office of the Attorney General – CURES 2.0 (Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System) is a database of Schedule II, III and IV controlled substance prescriptions dispensed in California serving the public health, regulatory oversight agencies, and law enforcement. CURES 2.0 is committed to the reduction of prescription drug abuse and diversion without affecting legitimate medical practice or patient care. Do not put off registering with CURES another day. Identifying a medical provider prescriber may save a life. The combination of California’s Nurse Practitioners armed with the latest best practices and routinely using the CURES database will lead to better patient outcomes.

To begin your CURES registration click on the link below.

https://cures.doj.ca.gov/registration/confirmEmailPnDRegistration.xhtml

Also, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and confidentiality and disclosure provisions of California law cover the information contained in CURES 2.0.

Access to CURES 2.0 is limited to licensed prescribers and licensed pharmacists strictly for patients in their direct care; and regulatory board staff and law enforcement personnel for official oversight or investigatory purposes.

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Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable types of cancer, and women can be screened for it with routine Pap tests.thCAGFH0KZ

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is now recommending women begin cervical cancer screening at age 21, instead of 3 years after the onset of sexual activity, as was previously recommended by the group.  

The American Cancer Society recommends that all women should begin cervical cancer screening within three years after they start having sex and no later than age 21, and screening should be done every year with a regular Pap test.

The Pap test (or Pap smear) looks for pre-cancers, cell changes on the cervix that may become cervical cancer if they are not treated appropriately.

The American Cancer Society recommends:

  • Beginning at age 30, women who have had 3 normal Pap test results in a row may get screened every 2 to 3 years. Women older than 30 may also get screened every 3 years with either the conventional or liquid-based Pap test, plus the human papilloma virus (HPV) test.

The human papillomavirus (*HPV) test looks for the virus that can cause these cell changes.

  • Women 70 years of age or older who have had 3 or more normal Pap tests in a row and no abnormal Pap test results in the last 10 years may choose to stop having cervical cancer testing.
  • Women who have had a total hysterectomy (removal of the uterus and cervix) may also choose to stop having cervical cancer testing, unless the surgery was done as a treatment for cervical cancer or precancer.
  • Women who have had a hysterectomy without removal of the cervix (a supra-cervical hysterectomy) need to continue cervical cancer screening and follow the guidelines above.

The CDC Recommends the following steps to help prevent Cervical Cancer –

  1. Use condoms during sex
  2. Limit your number of sexual partners

*HPV infection can occur in both male and female genital areas that are covered or protected by a latex condom, as well as in areas that are not covered. While the effect of condoms in preventing HPV infection is unknown, condom use has been associated with a lower rate of cervical cancer.

Sources: CDC, Black Women's Health Imperative