Transcript Document
Legislative Update
College of Nursing Alumni Meeting
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Legislative Update
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State Update 2013
• Annual Hospital Assessment Fee
– Still at a 4.52% rate on net patient
revenues
– Covers 7% provider reduction from
TennCare reimbursement rates
– Signed by Governor in April
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State Update 2013
• UTHSC Budget Update
– 3.5% increase in operational funding for
Medical Units
– $14.8 million commitment over 5 years to
fund pediatric physician scientists; matches
$15 million in funding by St. Jude
– 1.5% pay raises for employees of higher
education institutions
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State Update 2013
• UTHSC Budget Update
– Full funding of $66,500,000 for the UTHSC
Classroom & Laboratory Building and
Renovations. Renovates Nash, Crowe &
Mooney Buildings.
– $5 million in Capitol Maintenance for
General Education Building Improvements.
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Medicaid Expansion
In a special Joint Session, Governor Bill
Haslam announced his decision to reject
federal funding to expand Medcaid as
envisioned by the Affordable Care Act.
He is pursuing an alternative Proposal
called “The Tennessee Plan.”
“The Tennessee Plan” is awaiting
clarification/approval from the Centers for
Medicare and Medicaid
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“The Tennessee Plan”
Hybrid plan using federal funding to purchase
private health insurance for an estimated 175,000
uninsured Tennesseans
Applicable to those with incomes below 138% of
Federal Poverty Level (about $32,000 for a family
of four)
Federal Gov’t would provide all of the funding to
purchase the insurance on the insurance
exchange marketplace through 2016; not less
than 90% thereafter
By 2020, this would bring $6 billion in federal
funds to Tennessee
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“The Tennessee Plan”
Items awaiting CMS approval include:
Benefits and Appeals process would mirror other
enrollees in exchange plans, not TennCare
No wrap around services
No special consideration for “medically frail”
population
Population would have same cost-sharing
requirements as others under the exchange
Arrangement would have a circuit-breaker so that
the General Assembly would have to reauthorize
plan in three years
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Legislation of Interest
• SB 529/ HB 49 – Regulates nurse
practicioners prescribing certain drugs
• SB 412/ HB 306 – Expands certain
enhanced punishment for assault and
aggravated assault applicable to
healthcare providers acting in the
discharge of their duties
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Federal Update 2013
• FY 2014 Budget Chronology
– March 21: House passes H.Con.Res.25
– March 23: Senate passes S.Con.Res. 8
– April 10: President’s Budget
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Federal Update 2013
• President’s FY 2014 Budget
– Proposes additional $1.8 trillion in deficit
reduction over 10 years
– Assumes sequestration is replaced by
“balanced” deficit reduction
– FY 2013 numbers do not reflect
sequestration
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Federal Update 2013
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Title VIII Nursing Workforce
– FY 2012 Final: $231.1 million
– FY 2013 *Estimated*: $218.9 million
– FY 2014 President’s Budget: $251.1 million
• +14.7% change v. FY 13 estimate
Title VIII Advanced Nursing Education:
– HRSA program supporting infrastructure grants; traineeships; and
grants to accelerate production of primary care advanced practice
nurses
– $83.5 million
– If sustained over 5 years, HRSA estimates the investment will
increase the number of advanced practice RNs by 1400.
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UT Advocacy Overview
• UT Advocacy is the official grassroots network of
the UT System.
• Advocates believe in the value of UT to all
Tennesseans, and share that message with
elected officials.
• Those interested in advocating for the University
and it’s priorities should subscribe to the network
online: advocacy.tennessee.edu/speakout
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Advocacy Network: Benefits
• Weekly report of legislative activity
during session via email
• Frequent web & social media updates
regarding current UT issues
• Candidate information during elections
(issue surveys, etc).
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Important Advocacy Practices
• One of the most important things you
can do to help advocate for UT is stay
informed on key issues like these.
• Being able to discuss issues with
elected officials in a clear and cogent
manner makes all the difference in
legislative advocacy.
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Important Advocacy Practices
• When talking to elected officials, make
sure you tell YOUR UT story. Let them
know how UT has impacted your life,
career, and community.
• Communicate with elected officials on a
regular basis. Visit with them in their
districts at town hall meetings, issue
forums, etc.
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Online Resources
http://advocacy.tennessee.edu
Twitter: @UTAdvocator
Facebook.com/UTAdvocacy
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