CNAP Achievements

• 1992 Medicaid reimbursement was expanded to include all APNs and increased to 85% of the physician rate.
  
  
• 1993 CNAP blocked a rider to the Appropriations Act which sought to prevent any future increase in Medicaid reimbursement for APNs.
  
  
• 1995 SB 673 became law, allowing many more APNs to have prescriptive authority at the site in which they practice.
  
  
• 1995 CNAP participated in forming the Ad Hoc Committee on Collaborative Practice. The committee is composed of 5 APNs, 5 PAs, and 5 physicians who meet to discuss proactive issues and propose legislative and regulatory remedies.
  
  
• 1995 CNAP initiated restructuring the Texas RN PAC, renamed as the Texas RN/APN PAC, to improve APN recognition and participation in supporting political candidates.
  
  
• 1997 HB 2846 became law, expanding prescriptive authority and allowing more APNs to be on managed care panels and reimbursed directly by insurance companies.
  
  
• 1997 APNs were identified as providers in managed care laws, guaranteeing important rights to both patients and providers.
  
  
• 1997 CNAP tracked 106 bills that potentially affected APN practice, providing information, testimony, or written comments as needed.
  
  
• 1999 SB 1131 requires more insurance plans to reimburse APNs, recognizes APNs as providers for cosmetology licensing physicals, guarantees APNs certain rights in clinical privileging, and allows LVNs to call prescriptions to a pharmacy for APNs.
  
  
• 1999 SB 1133 authorizes state agencies to contract for RN services based on the quality of the provider, not just on cost.
  
  
• 1999 HB 1409 authorizes APNs to perform physical exams for school bus drivers.
  
  
• 2000 University Interscholastic League changes its constitution to allow APNs to sign UIL sports physical exam forms for students.
  
  
• 2001 SB 1166 expands sites for prescriptive authority to include alternate sites, and allows the Board of Medical Examiners to waive some physician supervision requirements.
  
  
• 2003  HB 1095 allows prescriptive authority for Controlled Substances, Schedules III-V. Requires hospitals, HMOs and PPOs to use a standard credentialing application form.
  
  
• 2005 Nine bills become laws that specifically include APNs.  Included is SB 1188 that has a provision requiring HHSC to include language in contracts with Medicaid managed care companies requiring them to include APNs as primary care providers for Medicaid clients.
  
  
• 2006   As a result of Rider 72 in Article II, Appropriations Bill, the Medicaid rate for APNs increased from 85% to 92% of the physician’s fee.
  
  
• Ongoing  APNs are included in many Texas laws and regulations because of CNAP's efforts.