A Call to Action, Legislation 2013

To all Utah Nurse Practitioners,

 After extensive research, the Utah Nurse Practitioners Board voted to support Utah Medicaid expansion because it will be beneficial to nurse practitioners and the patients we serve.. Whether or not you are personally for or against it, the current legislation (HB 391) is not the way to handle this issue.

 By now most of you know the Medicaid expansion is in serious trouble.  In an unexpected move, a bill prohibiting Utah from expanding Medicaid was passed by the House Business and Labor Committee. For details see this Salt Lake Tribune's story. This bill MUST be voted down or the Governor may feel like he can walk away from his commitment to carefully study the Medicaid expansion option.  IF THERE EVER WAS A TIME TO CALL OR EMAIL YOUR LEGISLATOR, THE TIME IS NOW.

 Talking Points (MESSAGE FOCUSES STRATEGICALLY ON THE NEED TO CAREFULLY STUDY THE EXPANSION OPTION before making any decision; IT purposely DOES NOT FOCUS ON THE GOOD CASE FOR EXPANSION)

• Because of a delay in a important state commissioned cost-benefit analysis on the expansion, state leaders haven’t yet had a chance to see the full picture. Without the cost benefit study available, any decision on the expansion is premature.
• The legislature is not required to act on the Medicaid expansion. The default is not expanding Medicaid. 
• HB 391 undermines the collaborative process the Governor, stakeholders, and state leaders are putting together to deal with the issue.
• Considering that many other Republican states went from not supporting to supporting the expansion after seeing their state studies, it’s important that your legislators keep an open mind and look at the study before making a decision.

Please look up your own legislators at http://le.utah.gov/GIS/findDistrict.jsp   and encourage them to NOT support HB391.  Call or email right away because the votes are happening soon!”  Call the Maybes below and then the unknowns. Please send any feedback to matt@healthpolicyproject.org.

Right now the vote count is neck-and-neck!

Maybes (or leaning NO or should know better)

Unknowns

Contact me with any questions. Please take action now and help us help you.

Most sincerely,

Lee Moss, NP

801-231-7840 (C)

lee.moss@hsc.utah.edu