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Legislative Alerts

NASN Call for Action: SCHIP Update Regarding Veto Override Needed (Posted: 10/5/07)
National Call-In Days to Congress: Override President's Veto of SCHIP (Posted: 10/16/07)
NASN Call for Action: Ensure Medicaid Reimbursement for Schools (Posted: 8/20/07)
House Bill 1139: An Act Authorizing Self Monitoring and Self Treatment for Students With Diabetes (Posted: 8-13-07)
House Bill 4199: An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition (Posted: 8-15-07)
House Bill 2614: An Act Relative to Creditable Service for School Nurses (Posted: 11-15-07)
Senate Bill 1508: An Act Relative to a Retirement Buyback for School Nurses (Posted: 8-24-07) MSNO Legislative Priorities 2007
MSNO Policy Report: "Ensuring Access to School Nursing Services for Massachusetts Children and Youth January 2008"
Fact Sheet: Ensuring Access to School Nursing Services for Massachusetts Children and Youth (For Printable copy)

School Health Services Budget 2009 Line Item: 04590-0250
Fact Sheet: "Increase Access to Health Care for Children in FY’09" (For Printable copy)

MSNO Legislative Updates for Annual Meeting 2008

Legislative Visit Day 2008
Legislative Tool Kit

Legislative Thank Yous
    Senate Bill No. 100 (An Act Establishing a Special Commission to Study Essential Health Services in MA. Public Schools)
    Senate Bill No. 101 (An Act Relative to Funding for School Health Programs)


Massachusetts Legislative Tracking Reports (April 30,2008)


NASN Legislative Priorities for 2007


Legislative Articles in the News

The New York Times (August 20, 2007)
"Bush Administration Set New Standards to Restrict SCHIP Expansion"

The Boston Globe
"Children May Lose Out on Insurance New US Rules, State Plan Linked"
By Alice Dembner, Globe Staff (August 22, 2007)




Helpful Legislative Information


School Health Advocacy Day Archives



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MSNO Legislative Updates for Annual Meeting 2008


School Nurse Advocacy and Action


INVITE YOUR LEGISLATORS, SUPERINTENDENT, AND OTHERS- TO YOUR SCHOOL HEALTH OFFICE IN 2008.

Talk to legislators, educators, the media, parents, and health care advocates and explain what school nurses do and why our roles are vital for the health and safety of the school community.

  • Advocate for a school nurse in every school
  • Advocate for healthy and safe schools that support academic achievement
  • Let them count the Epi pens, the inhalers, and the nebulizer sets
  • Show them the oxygen tanks, the AEDs, the glucometers, and the Glucagon kits
  • Share with them the data from the state and from your school/district including: daily student encounters in the health office, return to class rates, nursing services that support students with chronic health conditions, referrals to primary care, mental health, or emergency medical services
  • Describe your role in support of State initiatives for health care reform and linkage to accessible health care and health insurance
  • Advocate for funding for the FY09 budget line item # 4590-0250 supporting School Health Services
  • Advocate for the school nurse retirement bills

    A “Tool kit” is available on this website that includes sample letters, media releases, fact sheets and will be continuously updated as your resource. Click here to see Legislative toolkit.

    Be prepared and recognize opportunities…..
    to advocate and educate about school nursing and health services
    for children and youth in Massachusetts!


    Questions or requests for advice or assistance may be directed to Mimi Stamer at stamer@msno.org.


    Legislative Advocacy and Lobbying


    School Health Line Item (4590-0250) FY 09 Budget

    MSNO is actively advocating for School Health Services funding, as a member of the Massachusetts School Health Collaborative (Mass. Coalition of School-Based Health Centers, Mass. School Nurse Organization, Mass. Nurses Association, Mass. Organization of Nurse Executives, Mass. Public Health Association, Parents Alliance for Catholic Education, and Mass. Association of Jewish Federations):

    INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN IN FY’09!
    School Health Services Help Reduce Health Disparities
    and Reduces Health Barriers to Learning


    Request that $3.3 million be added to the School Health Line Item (4590-0250) in FY’ 09 and increase the bottom line appropriation from $16.7 million to $20 million.

  • Increase the earmark for “school nurses and school based health centers” from $15 million to $18 million. This would enable 35- 40 additional school districts to be eligible for funding to support school nursing services and additional communities to develop much needed school-based health centers.
  • Increase the earmark for “mental health and substance abuse services in school based health centers” from $300,000 to $600,000. This increase would allow nearly twice as many students to access mental health and substance abuse services in school-based health centers.

    Anticipated time line regarding School Health Line Item (4590-0250) in the House Ways and Means Budget FY 09:

  • April 14- 18 School Health Collaborative advocacy via letters and calls to legislators
  • April 15- 16 House Ways and Means Budget FY 09 will be released
  • April 17- 18 Amendments addressing funding for School Health Line Item (4590-0250) will be filed, as needed
  • Continued advocacy for School Health Line Item (4590-0250) will be activated as needed, via action alerts for grass roots school nurse advocacy and MSNO lobbying


    Legislative Bills- Updates


    SB 2455, “An Act Relative to Providing Equitable Benefits for Members of the Teacher’s Retirement System” remains in Senate Ways and Means committee for fiscal analysis. MSNO’s Retirement bill HB 2647 was released by the public service committee not amended to the House Ways & Means Committee. The Senate version of 2455 is the bill that MSNO has negotiated. H. 2647 will just die a natural death and MSNO is lobbying for the Senate version S. 2455 instead. The Committee on Senate Ways and Means needs to hear from more Senators requesting that S. 2455, “Relative to providing equitable benefits for members of the teachers' retirement system” be moved favorably out of committee. Complete a letter today, with your personal information, and MSNO will mail it directly to your senator.

    HB 2614, “An Act Relative to Creditable Service for School Nurses”, sponsored by Representative Thomas Kennedy on behalf of Fran Johnson, RN, is in review by House Ways and Means Committee.

    HB 430, “An Act Ensuring Adequate Nursing Services At Public Schools”, sponsored by Representative Jennifer Flanagan was released favorably from the Joint Committee on Education and is under review by the Joint Committee of Health Care Finance

    SB 349, “An Act to Ensure Adequate School Nursing Service”, sponsored by Senator Richard Moore was also reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Education attached to HB430 and is under review by Joint Committee for Health Care Finance

    H. 4376, “An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition”, sponsored by Representative Peter Koutoujian is in review by Joint Committee on Ways and Means MSNO supports the advocacy of the Massachusetts Public Health Association (MPHA) and requests school nurses send letters to legislators and local newspapers in support of School Nutrition Bill. Please refer to www.mphaweb.org for sample letter and more information.

    HB 1139, "An Act Authorizing Self Monitoring and Self Treatment for Students with Diabetes", sponsored by Representative Louis Kafka, remains in study with Chairwoman Patricia Walrath and the Joint Committee on Health Care Finance. MSNO is participating in meetings with ADA, Rep. Kafka, Chairwoman Walrath, MNA, MDPH, and MTA, to discuss the two controversial issues within HB 1139 that are opposed by MSNO: 1) authorizing all students to self manage diabetes care by removing school nurse role; and 2) authorizing Glucagon administration by non-medically licensed school staff.


    Further Legislative Information:


  • MSNO Legislative Priorities and Updates are available on www.msno.org
  • Legislative questions or issues: contact Mimi Stamer at stamer@msno.org
  • Full Legislative Bills Monthly Tracking Report, prepared for MSNO by Craven and Ober Policy Strategists, LLC, is available at www.msno.org
  • Full text for legislative bills is available at www.mass.gov/legis
  • Contact information for your legislators is available at www.state.ma.us or at www.votesmart.org


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    INCREASE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE FOR CHILDREN IN FY’09!
    School Health Services Help Reduce Health Disparities and
    Reduces Health Barriers to Learning


    Please add $3.3 million to the School Health Line Item (4590-0250) in FY’ 09 and increase the bottom line appropriation from $16.7 million to $20 million.
    • Increase the earmark for “school nurses and school based health centers” from $15 million to $18 million. This would enable 35- 40 additional school districts to be eligible for funding to support school nursing services and additional communities to develop much needed school-based health centers.

    • Increase the earmark for “mental health and substance abuse services in school based health centers” from $300,000 to $600,000. This increase would allow nearly twice as many students to access mental health and substance abuse services in school-based health centers.

    • In FY’04, funding for school health services was cut by 50%, curtailing access to health care for the Commonwealth’s school children and impacting the standards of health care and services provided in the public and private school settings


    Essential School Health Services Grant (ESHS)

    ESHS supports school nursing and the priorities of the MDPH
    • Eliminates racial and ethnic disparities in health by providing school health services to every child, not exclusive of cultural background and socioeconomic or health insurance status
    • Promotes wellness in school, home, community, and workplace
      • School Nurses implement State mandated health screenings for children (Vision, Hearing, Growth, and Postural Screenings)
      • School nurses are the gate keepers regarding Immunizations
      • School Nurses are the “safety net” for children and families

    • Manages chronic diseases of children

    ESHS Promotes the State’s initiative for Health Care Reform.
    • School nurses provide informational materials and applications to families about Commonwealth Health Connector and referrals to MassHealth, Children’s Security Plan, or Commonwealth Care

    • Data is generated by school nurses as to how many families are referred and enroll in a State Health Insurance


    ESHS Grant Funding
      ESHS Grants provide a support system that enhances the nursing care services to 102 school districts and over 543,000 students (approximately half of MA students).
      • Support School Nurses who are responsible for the health services of 250 - 1,200 students per school
      • Supports school nurse services for about 40 - 100 students in the health office per day
      • Supports the salaries of approximately 300 out of the 2000 school nurses in the State


      The Goals of the Essential School Health Services Grants are to
      • Strengthen the school health nurse infrastructure through the role of a School Nurse Leader
      • Implement health education/tobacco control programs
      • Promote linkages with community providers ensuring each child has a “medical home”
      • Promote linkages with health insurance
      • Implement school health data systems that facilitate computerized health records and the ability to generate critically important data about school health services, children’s health conditions, and public health issues
      • Provide consultation and assistance to recipient public school districts and non public schools thus extending the benefits of the Grant to most districts in the Commonwealth.


      ESHS facilitates the generation of public health data
      • School nursing services were provided in 1,637 public and 260 non-public schools.
      • In 2006, there were over 6 million student encounters with school nurses in addition to the state mandated screenings required by law.


      ESHS funding supports
      • Essential school health personnel
      • Health Supplies
      • Medical Equipment & Machines
      • Computer Technology & Software
      • Medical and Health Textbooks & References
      • Professional Development


      School Nursing in Massachusetts
      • School nurses are present in every school system and work to: meet state mandates for immunizations and screening, administer medications and treatments, assist with educational planning for kids with special health and education needs, serving on the front line as medical first responders for disasters and other public health emergencies, and coordinating care to primary care providers, often with School- Based Health Center staff who also provide this care along with mental health services, monitoring health outcomes, and enrolling families into MassHealth, the Children’s Medical Security Plan, and Commonwealth Care.

      • School nursing and school health services reduce absenteeism, decrease the number of emergency room visits, and provide a full range of nursing and health care services. School Based Health Centers provide medical care and social support to underserved and difficult to reach children and youth. 91.1% of students seen in the school nurse office are returned to class.

      • Significant health disparities exist among Asian, Black and Latino children. Asian, Black and Latino children with asthma, diabetes, cancer and other chronic illnesses have shown to have less access to quality health care and health insurance.

      • The health of school children has become more complex. Children with severe allergies, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy, cancer and other special health care needs, and chronic medical conditions are enrolled in our schools. In addition, there has been a rise of social problems among our youth such as substance abuse, depression, and violence.


      For further information, please contact the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization:
      Kathy Hassey 978-287-4284 hassey@msno.org
      Mimi Stamer 508-212- 5234 stamer@msno.org
      Policy Strategists: GCraven@policystrategists.com or sober@policystrategists.com



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    Legislator Visit Day 2008


    Bring your Legislators to school – to educate and to advocate for
    School Health Services as a top funding priority at the State House


    The 2nd annual School Nurse Legislator Visit Days are planned for January 2008. The 2007 Legislator visits brought enlightening and positive feedback from both the legislators and school nurses of the thirty districts who participated in the event. The goal in 2008 is to invite your Legislator to school in January BEFORE they are asked to bring their legislative funding priorities to the Senate President.

    A “tool kit” for preparing your legislators is available including an invitation for a school visit to a selected and targeted legislator; a notice/letter to be used with school superintendent, principal or school committee as needed; MSNO School Nurse Data and use of business cards; fact sheet on the MSNO legislative priorities; media alert; press release; recommendations for pictures; and a template for follow up thank you notes to lawmakers and school personnel. Further information is available below or please contact Mimi Stamer at stamer@msno.org if you are interested in participating in the Legislator Visit Day 2008. Support and guidance will be available to you from MSNO, our lobbyists Gloria Craven and Stacey Ober, and your school nurse colleagues.

    MSNO Legislative Tool Kit


    Invite your legislators to your health office and educate them about the true nature of school nursing that is transforming communities. Show them what school nurses do and why our roles are vital for the health and safety of the school community

    • Share with them the data about your daily student encounters and health conditions
    • Introduce them to your students who rely on nursing services in order to access their education (per parental consent)
    • Let them count the epi pens, the inhalers, and the nebulizer sets, oxygen tanks, the AEDs, the glucometers, and the glucagon kits
    • Advocate for funding for the fy 09 budget line item # 4590-0250 supporting School Health Services
    • Advocate for the school nurse retirement bills, professional status, and pay equity
    • Advocate for a school nurse in every school


    Ask your legislators to make school health services a top funding priority!


        Re: Action Alert H 2647- MSNO's Retirement Bill
    (Now Senate Bill 2455)


    From: Mimi Stamer, President-Elect, MSNO
    Re: With great appreciation for the advocacy by MSNO's lobbyists' Gloria Craven and Stacey Ober, I am pleased to inform you that the MSNO Retirement bill, formerly HB 2647, has advanced out of committee and become:

    SB 2455, An Relative to Providing Equitable Benefits for Members of the Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement System - Sponsored by Joint Public Service Chairmen, Senator Brian Joyce & Representative Jay Kaufman, and Representative Elizabeth A. Malia.

    ISSUE: School nurses became eligible members of the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement System (MTRS) after Education Reform in 1993 required Department of Education (DOE) certification. Subsequent legal cases have concurred with this legal analysis. As a consequence of this change, a relatively small percentage of school nurses (less than 300 as estimated by MTRS) who have served our children for many years and are close to retirement have been unable to include their years of employment prior to 1993, for purposes of eligibility in Retirement Plus upon their retirement.

    SOLUTION: This bill seeks to remedy this unintended consequence of Education Reform and gross inequity for nurses and certain other school professionals. It allows school nurses, school social workers, early childhood teachers, speech, occupational or physical therapists or school business administrators, who are members of the teachers' retirement system or the State-Boston retirement system to appropriately apply all their years employed in a like position, before Ed Reform, towards the membership requirements of RetirementPlus. Upon their request, the Board may allow the member to elect into the RetirementPlus program. Any active member electing into the RetirementPlus program must make contributions to the retirement system as if they had elected into the program as of July 1, 2001. In addition, the bill requires the member to pay interest on the amounts owed the system from the date of their subsequent election back to July 1, 2001. The interest rate paid by the member will be one half of the actuarially assumed investment rate of return for the applicable retirement system.

    For more information contact: Gloria Craven or Stacey Ober at Craven & Ober Policy Strategists, LLC, (617) 523-6501.



    MSNO Legislative Updates January 2008


    School Health Line Item (4590-0250) for FY ’09 (see attached ESHS fact sheet to be included with tool kit documents on website: Click here)

    Advocacy for Essential School Health Services and support for $3.3 million to the School Health Line Item (4590-0250) in FY’ 09 and increase the bottom line appropriation from $16.7 million to $20 million.
      Increase the earmark for “school nurses and school based health centers” from $15 million to $18 million. This would enable 35- 40 additional school districts to be eligible for funding to support school nursing services and additional communities to develop much needed school-based health centers.

      Increase the earmark for “mental health and substance abuse services in school based health centers” from $300,000 to $600,000. This increase would allow nearly twice as many students to access mental health and substance abuse services in school-based health centers.


    Massachusetts School Nurse Recognition Week January 28- February 1

    Legislator Visit Days
      • Invite legislators to visit you at school during Massachusetts School Nurse Recognition Week.

      • Request that school health services be a top legislative priority!

      • Tool Kit is available by Clicking here (add attached ESHS fact sheet to tool kit documents.)

      - Note map of State with/without current ESHS in tool kit and target legislators to support line item funding for Essential School Health Infrastructure (ESHS) Grant fy ‘09

      - Email Mimi at stamer@msno.org with names of nurses and legislators participating in Visit Day, and with any questions or needs for assistance

    MSNO Policy Paper:

    Ensuring Access to School Nursing Services for Massachusetts Children and Youth

    Join us at the State House for the public release of the MSNO policy paper at a Press Event co-sponsored by Rep. Jen Flanagan in

    Celebration of Massachusetts School Nurse Recognition Week
    January 29th 3:00 - 3:30 P.M.
    Grand Staircase


    Recently Advanced Bills Related to School Nurse Retirement and Credible Service:

    Frequently Asked Questions:
      • There has been a surge in emails and phone calls regarding the recently advanced bills related to school nurse retirement and credible service. Many nurses are mixing the two bills which is creating further confusion. Please refer questions to Mimi at stamer@msno.org.

      Please note that the bills have not passed into laws yet, and that the legislative process offers no guarantees. If the bills result in laws, then school nurses should consult with the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement Board (MTRB) regarding their individual employment history and their most cost effective retirement options.


    Updates and Text of the Bills:

    MSNO’s Retirement bill HB 2647 was released by the public service committee unamended to the House Ways & Means Committee. The Senate version of 2455 is the bill that we all negotiated. H. 2647 will just die a natural death and we'll lobby for the Senate version S. 2455 instead which has been sent to the Senate Ways and Means committee for a fiscal analysis.

    SB 2455, “An Act Relative to Providing Equitable Benefits for Members of the Teacher’s Retirement System”
    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

    SECTION 1. Paragraph (i) of subdivision (4) of section 5 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking out the sixth sentence and inserting the following sentence:

    A member of a contributory retirement system other than the teachers’ retirement system or a teacher in the State-Boston retirement system, who transfers into the teachers’ retirement system or transfers into the State-Boston retirement system as a teacher may elect to participate in the alternative superannuation retirement benefit program but that election shall occur within 180 days after establishing membership in the teachers’ retirement system or the State-Boston retirement system.

    SECTION 2. Paragraph (ii) of said subdivision (4) of said section 5 of said chapter 32, as so appearing, is hereby amended by striking out the second sentence and inserting in place thereof the following sentence:-

    Such member shall have served for not less than 20 years as a teacher in order to be eligible to receive the benefit provided under this subdivision but years of membership service in a contributory retirement system while employed in a public day school in the commonwealth or an education collaborative under section 4E of chapter 40, as a school nurse, school social worker, early childhood teacher, speech, occupational or physical therapist or school business administrator, as determined by the board, shall be considered years as a teacher for the purposes of this section.

    SECTION 3. A school nurse, school social worker, early childhood teacher, speech, occupational or physical therapist, or school business administrator, who is a member in service and who on or before July 1, 2001 was eligible to elect to participate in the alternative superannuation retirement benefit program or who transferred from a contributory retirement system to the teachers’ retirement system or the State-Boston retirement system as a teacher under paragraph (i) of subdivision (4) of section 5 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, and who elected not to participate or made no election, may elect to do so within 180 days of the effective date of this act on such form as the state teachers’ retirement board or the State-Boston retirement board shall prescribe; provided that said member shall make retirement contributions to the system, prior to retirement, as if said member had elected into said program on or before July 1, 2001, plus interest. The interest shall be calculated by using one half of the actuarially assumed investment rate of return of the teachers' retirement system or the State-Boston retirement system. The election to participate in the alternative superannuation retirement benefit program shall be irrevocable and shall be subject to said subdivision (4) of section 5 of said chapter 32.

    The election provided in this section shall also apply to any retired or other inactive member of the teachers' retirement system or of the State-Boston retirement system who (a) was a member in service on or before July 1, 2001 or transferred from a contributory retirement system to the teachers' retirement system or the State-Boston retirement system after that date, (b) was eligible to elect to participate in the alternative superannuation retirement benefit program, and (c) notified, in writing, the school district payroll, business, or other administrative officer of an intention to elect to participate in the alternative superannuation retirement benefit program established pursuant to paragraph (i) of subdivision (4) of section 5 of chapter 32. The new benefit provided through such election shall be actuarially reduced, if necessary, to meet the plan qualification requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), as provided in paragraph (i) of subdivision (4) of section 5 of Chapter 32.

    HB 2614, “An Act Relative to Creditable Service for School Nurses” is in review by House Ways and Means Committee

    HB 2614, SECTION 1. Subdivision (1) of section 4 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph (h) the following paragraph:–
    (h½) Any school nurse who is a member in service of the teacher’s retirement system or a municipal or city of Boston or state retirement system who is employed in a school approved by the department of education may receive creditable service for any period or periods of work experience in the nursing field. No credit shall be allowed until such member has paid into the annuity savings fund of the system before any retirement allowance becomes effective for such member, in one sum, or in installments, upon such terms and conditions as the board may prescribe, makeup payments of an amount equal to 10 percent of the regular annual compensation of the member when said member entered the retirement system for each year of service so purchased, plus buy back interest. No credit shall be allowed and no payment shall be accepted under this paragraph until the member shall have completed ten or more years of membership service. The maximum creditable service allowable under this paragraph for any member shall not exceed three years. Members in service of a retirement system eligible for said creditable service under this act shall make application for said creditable service within ninety days of being notified by the retirement board of their eligibility after becoming vested in the retirement system or for currently eligible members, within ninety days of the effective date of this act.

    Management of Students with Diabetes

    HB 1139, “An Act Authorizing Self Monitoring and Self Treatment for Students with Diabetes”

    MSNO is meeting with legislators and representatives from MDPH, MNA, the medical community, and ADA regarding HB 1139 to address the two controversial issues within bill:
      1. law authorizing ALL students to self manage diabetes care (removing school nurse approval/assessment/involvement)

      2. authorization of the administration of Glucagon by injection by non-medically licensed school staff, in absence of school nurse



    Re: Action Alert H 2647- MSNO's Retirement Bill


    MSNO has been advised by our lobbyists Gloria Craven and Stacey Ober, Craven and Ober, Policy Strategists, LLC, to initiate a letter writing campaign to move our bill (H 2647) favorably out of the Joint Committee of Public Service. They have prepared a draft letter that you may send after completing the appropriate spaces with the names of your own state senator and state representative as well as you own name and address years of service, and signature. A letter should be sent to both your state senator and state represnsentative. To identify who that is, you may can go to www.vote-smart.org and type in your zip code and voila the names are there! Please note too, that if you are a constituent of one of the members of the Joint Committee of Public Service, they are in a strong position to support our bill. Once you ask those lawmakers to "weigh in", please should also follow up with a phone call in about a week or so and ask for an update on the bill.

    MSNO Sample Legislative Letter Template


    Date

    The Honorable (your Representative or Senator’s name)
    State House Room ___
    Boston, MA 02133

    Dear Representative or Senator:

    I am a school nurse, with ____ years of service writing to respectfully urge you to ask the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Public Service to expediently release an amended version of H. 2647 and S.1524 to allow school nurses who have been serving in their positions for at least 30 years to participate in the RetirementPlus program.

    After Education Reform in 1993 requiring certification, school nurses not only maintained their licensure from the Board of Registration in Nursing, they also were required to attain certification from the Department of Education. This certification is criterion for recognition as eligible for school nurses, including myself, to become members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System (MTRS). Subsequent legal cases have concurred with this legal analysis.

    However, as a consequence of this change, a relatively small percentage of school nurses (less than 300 as estimated by MTRS) who have served our children for many years and are close to retirement, have been unable to include their years of employment prior to 1993, for purposes of eligibility in the MTRS RetirementPlus Program upon their retirement. This bill seeks to remedy this unintended consequence and gross inequity of Education Reform.

    The RetirementPlus program requires a member to have at least 30 years of creditable service, of which 20 years must be “teaching” service in the teachers’ retirement system or as a teacher in the State-Boston retirement system. In order to be a member of the teachers' retirement system, “teachers” have to meet certain eligibility requirements. One requirement is certification by the Department of Education. As noted, since the Department of Education did not begin certifying school nurses until the mid 1990’s school nurses were not members of the teachers' retirement system until then. These affected school nurses have been serving children in our Commonwealth since before 1993, and have been employed by school systems to do so.

    Thank you for your attention to this legislation and advocacy on its behalf. Please contact me if you need additional information or would like to speak to representatives from the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization.

    Sincerely,

    Your Name
    Your address
    Your phone and email


    Joint Committee on Public Service – Members


    Members of the Joint Committee of Public Service:

    Senator Downing - Berkshire - 617-722-1625 - Chairman
    Benjamin.Downing@state.ma.us

    Senator Augustas - Worcester - 617-722-1485 ( fax 617-722-1066) Vice Chairman
    Edward.Augustus@state.ma.us

    Senator Hart - First Suffolk - 617-722-1150
    John.Hart@state.ma.us

    Senator Joyce - Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth - 617-722-1643
    Brian.A.Joyce@state.ma.us

    Senator Candaras - First Hampden and Hampshire - 617-722-1291 (fax 617-722-1014)
    Gale.Candaras@State.MA.US

    Senator Knapik - Hampden and Hampshire - 617- 722- 1415
    Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us

    Representative Kaufman - Lexington - 617-722-2240 – Chairman
    Rep.JayKaufman@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Forry - Boston - 617-722-2430 - Vice Chairman
    Rep.LindaDorcenaForry@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Kafka - Stoughton - 617-722-2305 (fax - 617-722-2598)
    Rep.LouisKafka@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Greene - Billerica - 617-722-2210 (fax -617-722-2215)
    Rep.WilliamGreene@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Fresolo - Worcester - 617-722-2240 (fax - 617-722-2774)
    Rep.JohnFresolo@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Donelan - Orange - 617-722-2230
    Rep.ChristopherDonelan@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Pignatelli - Lenox - 617-722-2582 (fax 617-722-2879)
    Rep.Smitty@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Conroy - Wayland - 617-722- 2240 (fax 617-722-2353)
    Rep.ThomasConroy@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative McCarthy - E. Bridgewater – 617-722-2130
    Rep.AllenMcCarthy@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Smola - Palmer - 617-722-2240
    Rep.ToddSmola@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Lepper - Attleboro - 617-722-2100 (fax 617-722-2390)
    Rep.JohnLepper@hou.state.ma.us



    Please Support
    House Bill 4376 "An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition"
    From: MPHA (Mass. Public Health Association)
    Email: mpha@mphaweb.org
    February 19, 2008


    Please support House Bill 4376 "An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition," which prohibits the sale of junk food and sugary drinks in schools. Visit www.mphaweb.org and click on "Email Your Representative" in the in the top box on the homepage. Request their support for its approval by the Ways and Means Committee. It only takes 30 seconds!

    To learn more about House Bill 4376 "An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition" please visit On this web page, you will find links to:
    • Contact your state representative in support of healthy school nutrition
    • Endorse An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition
    • Fact Sheet: An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition (pdf)
    • Community Action to Change School Food Policy: An Organizing Kit (pdf)
    • MPHA's past legislative action
    • Join MPHA's food and nutrition section!


    Update
    Hearing of HB 2614 and SB 1508

    HB 2614, An Act Relative to Creditable Service for School Nurses sponsored by Representative Thomas Kennedy on behalf of Fran Johnson, RN
    www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht02pdf/ht02614.pdf

    SB 1508, An Act Relative to a Retirement Buyback for School Nurses sponsored by Senator Robert Hedlund by request and petition of Joyce A. Toland, RN
    http://www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st01/st01508.htm

    Re: Hearing of HB 2614 and SB 1508 Thank you to all the school nurses and advocates who supported the bills relative to Retirement Buy Back and Creditable Service for School Nurses with oral and written testimonies and attendance at the hearing. Continued action is requested to promote the bills through the legislative process.

    Hearing by the Joint Committee for Public Service was held on September 27, 2007:

    Oral Testimonies presented at the hearing:
    Fran Johnson, Brockton Public Schools
    Pat Cook, Brockton Public Schools
    Joyce Toland, Boston Public Schools
    Sally Popoli, Westfield Public Schools
    Kathy Hassey, President, MSNO
    Mimi Stamer, President- Elect, MSNO
    Oral statements of support for the bills were presented by representatives from MTA and MNA
    Numerous copies of written testimonies submitted to the committee members for review
    MSNO Representatives at hearing:
    Beth Thomson, MSNO Enews Chairperson Joan Scheid, Region VI Co-Chairperson

    Continued Action Requested:

    Contact your state representativeand senators and members of the Joint Committee of Public Servcice and request that H 2614 and S 1508 be reported favorably out of committee so that the full House and Senate may debate and vote with support of this legislation as soon as possible.

    Contact information your personal legislators: www.mass.gov/legis.

    Contact information of legislators
    For your personal legislators refer to:

    Members of the Joint Committee of Public Service:

    Senator Downing - Berkshire - 617-722-1625 - Chairman
    Benjamin.Downing@state.ma.us

    Senator Augustas - Worcester - 617-722-1485 ( fax 617-722-1066) Vice Chairman
    Edward.Augustus@state.ma.us

    Senator Hart - First Suffolk - 617-722-1150
    John.Hart@state.ma.us

    Senator Joyce - Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth - 617-722-1643
    Brian.A.Joyce@state.ma.us

    Senator Candaras - First Hampden and Hampshire - 617-722-1291 (fax 617-722-1014)
    Gale.Candaras@State.MA.US

    Senator Knapik - Hampden and Hampshire - 617- 722- 1415
    Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us

    Representative Kaufman - Lexington - 617-722-2240 – Chairman
    Rep.JayKaufman@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Forry - Boston - 617-722-2430 - Vice Chairman
    Rep.LindaDorcenaForry@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Kafka - Stoughton - 617-722-2305 (fax - 617-722-2598)
    Rep.LouisKafka@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Greene - Billerica - 617-722-2210 (fax -617-722-2215)
    Rep.WilliamGreene@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Fresolo - Worcester - 617-722-2240 (fax - 617-722-2774)
    Rep.JohnFresolo@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Donelan - Orange - 617-722-2230
    Rep.ChristopherDonelan@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Pignatelli - Lenox - 617-722-2582 (fax 617-722-2879)
    Rep.Smitty@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Conroy - Wayland - 617-722- 2240 (fax 617-722-2353)
    Rep.ThomasConroy@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative McCarthy - E. Bridgewater – 617-722-2130
    Rep.AllenMcCarthy@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Smola - Palmer - 617-722-2240
    Rep.ToddSmola@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Lepper - Attleboro - 617-722-2100 (fax 617-722-2390)
    Rep.JohnLepper@hou.state.ma.us




    Written Testimony
    Supporting
    H 2614, An Act Relative to Creditable Service for School Nurses
    S 1508, An Act Relative to a Retirement Buyback for School Nurses


    Dear members of the Joint Committee of Public Service,

    My name is Maryalice Stamer. As President- Elect of the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization, I join school nurses from across Massachusetts to request your support of the bills H 2614 and S 1508 relative to creditable service and retirement buyback for school nurses.

    Seven years ago I became a school nurse, after working for 25 years as a pediatric nurse in hospital and primary care settings and having achieved a Masters of Science in Nursing, national certification as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, and complying with the licensure requirements of the Department of Education. School nursing is the front line of children’s health care and I have found it to often be the most challenging role in my career. The nursing experience from work prior to school nursing service, educates and trains the school nurse to function with the autonomy, independence, and clinical skills required of working in the educational setting. The school health room is the window to the child’s world, where medical and mental health conditions are not left outside the door. The school nurse responds to barriers to health care including poverty, homelessness, or lack of health insurance, with expertise and resourcefulness.

    Please consider the value of nursing experience prior to the school employment, as creditable service and recognize the difference it makes to school health services. The acceptance of three years of creditable service for prior nursing employment makes a significant difference in the retirement options deserved by school nurses. I respectfully request that you report House Bill 2614 and Senate Bill 1508 favorably out of committee so that the full House and Senate may debate and vote on this legislation as soon as possible, and that school nurses may be offered the retirement benefits that are equitable and well justified.

    Thank you for your attention,

    Maryalice Stamer, APRN, BC
    President- Elect, Massachusetts School Nurse Organization


    Action Alert: Senate Bill 2455: An Act Relative to Providing
    Equitable Benefits for Members of the Teachers'
    Retirement System (Formerly HB 2647)
    Mimi Stamer, MSNO President Elect and Legislative Liasion
    March 18, 2008


    The Committee on Senate Ways and Means needs to hear from more Senators requesting that S. 2455, An Act Relative to Providing Equitable Benefits for Members of the Teachers' Retirement System, be moved favorably out of committee. Please contact your senator and send the sample letter below. It is important that senators hear from their constituents, especially those living or working in the following communities: Lowell, Dunstable, Groton, Pepperell, Tyngsborough and Westford, Kingston, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Barnstable, Bourne, Falmouth and Sandwich, New Bedford, Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, and Mattapoisett.

    MSNO Sample Legislative Letter Template


    Date

    The Honorable ____________
    State House, Room ____
    Boston, Massachusetts 02133

    Dear Senator _______:

    I am writing to urge a favorable release of S. 2455, “Relative to providing equitable benefits for members of the teachers' retirement system”. As you likely know, school nurses became eligible members of the Massachusetts Teachers’ Retirement System (MTRS) after Education Reform in 1993 required Department of Education (DOE) certification. As a consequence of this change, a relatively small percentage of school nurses who have served our children for many years and are close to retirement have been unable to include their years of employment prior to 1993, for purposes of eligibility in Retirement Plus upon their retirement. This bill seeks to remedy this unintended consequence of Education Reform and gross inequity.

    In addition, there are a handful of other school personnel who face this same inequity. Along with the MTRS and the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association, the Massachusetts School Nurse Organizations (MSNO), of which I am a member, wishes to correct this disservice by passing this legislation. The bill makes it very clear that in order to qualify for such benefits, as a school nurse, I would have to elect to buy in to the Retirement Plus option.

    I am hopeful that you will work with the Senate Committee on Ways & Means to favorably and expediently release this bill in order to meet its intent to make the DOE Licensed/Certified School Nurses whole and their benefits in MTRS equitable.

    If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or our agents, Craven & Ober Policy Strategists, LLC at 617-523-6501.

    With Best Regards



    Name
    Address
    Phone


    Action Alert: Senate Bill 2455: An Act Relative to Providing
    Equitable Benefits for Members of the Teachers' Retirement System
    Mimi Stamer, MSNO President Elect and Legislative Liasion
    February 25, 2008


    Please write to your State Senator to urge a favorable release from the Senate Committee on Ways & Means, of Senate Bill 2455, An Act Relative to Providing Equitable Benefits for Members of the Teachers' Retirement System.

    School nurses became eligible members of the Massachusetts Teachers' Retirement System (MTRS) after Education Reform in 1993 required Department of Education (DOE) certification. As a consequence of this change, a relatively small percentage of school nurses who have served our children for many years and are close to retirement have been unable to include their years of employment prior to 1993, for purposes of eligibility in Retirement Plus upon their retirement. This bill seeks to remedy this unintended consequence of Education Reform and gross inequity. Along with the MTRS and the Massachusetts Teachers' Association, the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization (MSNO), wishes to correct this disservice by passing this legislation. The bill makes it very clear that in order to qualify for such benefits, as a school nurse, one would have to elect to buy into the Retirement Plus option.

    If you need help identifying your own State Senator, please check www.vote-smart.org which lists lawmakers by zip code.

    Sean Neillon from MTRS has answered the fiscal impact questions of the Committee on Senate Ways & Means. Jack Flanagan from MTA has also been very helpful. The staff of the Committee on Ways and Means have indicated that with a "push" the bill is likely to move "favorably"....so action is needed now.
    SCHIP Update Regarding Veto Override Needed
    Mimi Stamer, APRN, BC
    President-Elect, MSNO
    October 5, 2007


    On October 3, 2007, President Bush vetoed the bi-partisan legislation to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program. Speaker Pelosi has asked all the groups and/or associations that have been part of the Campaign for Children's Health to work towards assuring a veto override on October 18th.

    Your assistance is needed to convince certain House Members to change their minds and vote for the veto override. Please spread the word to these Members' constituents. The message is simple: BY VOTING FOR SCHIP, THEY ARE VOTING FOR KIDS!

    Access the Veto Document at: www.nasn.org/Portals/0/legislation/2007_10_02_schip_veto.pdf.

    Access Helpful Information from Speaker Pelosiâ's office for responding to the arguments in support of the veto; and a List of House Members that are being targeted to change their vote at: www.nasn.org/Portals/0/legislation/2007_10_05_schip_veto_override.pdf,

    If you need help in finding out how to reach a Member of Congress, please use the THOMAS Web site at: thomas.loc.gov.



    National Call-In Days to Congress: Override President's Veto of SCHIP
    Mimi Stamer, APRN, BC
    President-Elect, MSNO
    October 16, 2007


    On Thursday, October 18, the House of Representatives will vote to override the President's veto of SCHIP. In order to overturn a Presidential veto, two-thirds of Congress must vote with us. Although 45 House Republicans voted for the bill, we are still short of the votes in the House required to defeat the President .

    A victory for SCHIP is a victory for the health of school children. Please join the efforts of NASN and other children's health advocates for national call-in days to Congress and send the message that children's health is a priority.

    Please join us today and tomorrow and let your voice be heard. Call 1-800-828-0498 and ask to speak to your Representative and share the following message:

    I strongly urge you to vote to override President Bush's veto of SCHIP.

    As a voter, I believe that every child in America needs and deserves health care.

    To see how Members of Congress voted, visit: clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll938.xml.



    Massachusetts School Nurse Organization (MSNO)
    Legislative Priorities 2007



    State Legislation


    #1 MSNO Legislative Priority:

    Retirement Bills for School Nurses:
    • H 2647, An Act to Define Further Teacher for Retirement Purposes sponsored by Representative Elizabeth Malia and filed by the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization via the work and advocacy of Craven & Ober, Policy Strategists, LLC, the lobbying team hired by MSNO www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht02pdf/ht02647.pdf.

    • S 1524, An Act Relative to the Retirement Options of Certain Educational Personnel, sponsored by Senator Brian Joyce and advocated for by the Massachusetts Teachers Association www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st01/st01524.htm


    Ongoing Legislative Monitoring and Advocacy

    Buy-Back Bills for School Nurses School Health Services in Massachusetts

    Healthy School Nutrition

    Health Management of Children with Diabetes in School School Nurses’ Eligibility for Professional Teacher Status Tracking Reports of all pertinent legislative bills for MSNO are available at www.msno.org.


    Federal Legislation


    Collaborate to Support the Legislative Priorities and Advocacy of the National Association of School Nurses (NASN):
    • Improve the school nurse-to-student ratio and help ensure that all students’ health and safety needs are addressed while in the school setting

    • Support the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), the full funding IDEA, and a position for a National School Nurse within the leadership of Department of Education.

    • Ensure funding for school nursing services needed by students by supporting the improvement and reauthorization of SCHIP and Medicaid reimbursement to schools

    Tracking Reports of all pertinent legislative bills for NASN are available at www.nasn.org


    Action Alert
    Hearing by the Joint Committee for Public Service
    House Bill 2614 and Senate Bill 1508
    September 27, 2007
    State House, Boston
    (Time and Room to be Announced)


    House Bill 2614, An Act Relative to Creditable Service for School Nurses sponsored by Representative Thomas Kennedy on behalf of Fran Johnson. Read full text of the bill at www.mass.gov/legis/bills/house/185/ht02pdf/ht02614.pdf.

    Senate Bill 1508, An Act Relative to a Retirement Buyback for School Nurses sponsored by Senator Robert Hedlund by request and petition of Joyce A. Toland. Read full text of the bill at: www.mass.gov/legis/bills/senate/185/st01/st01508.htm .

    Act and Advocate before/after September 27th on behalf of your nursing experience and creditable service

    • Plan to present oral testimony telling your story as school nurse with prior work experience as a nurse (please inform me of your plans to testify or with any questions via mls5154@aol.com)


    • Plan to attend the hearing on September 27th and offer support for House Bill 2614 and Senate Bill 1508 by your presence with other school nurses.


    • Submit written testimony via email/fax to the Joint Committee of Public Service* in support of House Bill 2614 and Senate Bill 1508 (and email a copy to me for MSNO via www.mass.gov/legis.

    Talking Points to support the Buy-Back Bills House Bill 2614 and Senate Bill 1508

    • What impact will the opportunity to buy-back years of creditable service have on you?


    • Why should prior nursing experience be recognized as creditable service?


    • What types/years of previous nursing experience do you bring to your role as a school nurse (intensive care, emergency room, cardiac, pulmonary, oncology, endocrine etc, mental health, pediatric medical/surgical acute care, community health, and primary pediatrics etc)


    • Why do schools need nurses who bring with them a foundation of experience and a knowledge base and clinical skills to deal to autonomously respond to the vast magnitude of medical, physical, and psychosocial issues

    • Request that the legislators consider the value of all nursing experience as creditable service and support that House Bill 2614 and Senate Bill 1508 be reported favorably out of committee.


    Members of the Joint Committee of Public Service:

    Senator Downing - Berkshire - 617- 722-1625 - Chairman
    Benjamin.Downing@state.ma.us

    Senator Augustas - Worcester - 617-722-1485 ( Fax 617-722-1066) Vice Chairman
    Edward.Augustus@state.ma.us

    Senator Hart - First Suffolk - 617-722-1150
    John.Hart@state.ma.us

    Senator Joyce - Norfolk, Bristol, Plymouth - 617-722-1643
    Brian.A.Joyce@state.ma.us

    Senator Candaras - First Hampden and Hampshire - 617-722-1291 (Fax 617-722-1014)
    Gale.Candaras@State.MA.US

    Senator Knapik - Hampden and Hampshire - 617-722-1415
    Michael.Knapik@state.ma.us

    Representative Kaufman - Lexington - 617-722-2240 – Chairman
    Rep.JayKaufman@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Forry - Boston - 617-722-2430 - Vice Chairman
    Rep.LindaDorcenaForry@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Kafka - Stoughton - 617-722-2305 (Fax - 617 722 2598)
    Rep.LouisKafka@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Greene - Billerica - 617-722-2210 (Fax - 617-722-2215)
    Rep.WilliamGreene@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Fresolo - Worcester - 617-722-2240 (Fax - 617-722-2774)
    Rep.JohnFresolo@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Donelan - Orange - 617-722-2230
    Rep.ChristopherDonelan@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative Pignatelli - Lenox - 617-722-2582 (Fax- 617-722-2879)
    Rep.Smitty@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Conroy - Wayland - 617-722-2240 (Fax- 617-722-2353)
    Rep.ThomasConroy@hou.state.ma.us

    Representative McCarthy - E. Bridgewater – 617-722-2130
    Rep.AllenMcCarthy@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Smola - Palmer - 617-722-2240
    Rep.ToddSmola@Hou.State.MA.US

    Representative Lepper - Attleboro - 617-722-2100 (Fax-617-722-2390)
    Rep.JohnLepper@hou.state.ma.us


    Action Alert
    House Bill 2614: An Act Relative to Creditable Service for School Nurses
    November 15, 2007


    HB 2614 - An Act Relative to Creditable Service for School Nurses was reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Public Service and is now with the House Ways and Means Committee.

    HB 2614, filed by Rep. Tom Kenndy, authorizes and regulates the purchase of creditable service towards retirement by any eligible shcool nurse belonging to the teacher's retirement system, or a municipal of the city of Boston retirement system, for work experience in the nursing field.

    Please contact the Chairpersons and Members of the House Ways and Means Committee, as well as your personal legislators, to request their support to push this bill through.

    Contact information for House Ways and Means Committee

    Robert A. DeLeo of Winthrop - Chair Robert.DeLeo@state.ma.us 617-722-2990

    Marie P. St. Fleur of Boston - Vice Chair Rep.MarieSt.Fleur@hou.state.ma.us 617- 722-2380

    James E. Vallee of Franklin - Assistant Vice-Chair Rep.JamesVallee@hou.state.ma.us 617- 722-2380

    Theodore C. Speliotis of Danvers Rep.TheodoreSpeliotis@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2575

    Frank M. Hynes of Marshfield Rep.FrankHynes@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2552

    Thomas P. Kennedy of Brockton Rep.ThomasKennedy@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2012

    William C. Galvin of Canton Rep.WilliamGalvin@hou.state.ma.us 617- 722-2380

    Louis L. Kafka of Stoughton Rep.LouisKafka@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2305

    William G. Greene, Jr. of Billerica Rep.WilliamGreene@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2210

    John F. Quinn of Dartmouth Rep.JohnQuinn@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2020

    Paul Kujawski of Webster Rep.PaulKujawski@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2017

    Colleen M. Garry of Dracut Rep.ColleenGarry@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2380

    Harold P. Naughton, Jr. of Clinton Rep.HaroldNaughton@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2013

    Geraldine Creedon of Brockton Rep.GeraldineCreedon@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2070

    Barry R. Finegold of Andover Rep.BarryFinegold@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2676

    Alice K. Wolf of Cambridge Rep.AliceWolf@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2400

    Elizabeth A. Malia of Boston Rep.LizMalia@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2060

    Walter F. Timilty of Milton Rep.WalterTimilty@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2810

    David Paul Linsky of Natick Rep.DavidLinsky@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2210

    Mark V. Falzone of Saugus Rep.MarkFalzone@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2575

    Anne M. Gobi of Spencer Rep.AnneGobi@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2210

    Mary E. Grant of Beverly Rep.MaryGrant@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2220

    William Lantigua of Lawrence Rep.WilliamLantigua@hou.state.ma.us

    Robert M. Koczera of New Bedford Rep.RobertKoczera@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2582

    Christopher N. Speranzo of Pittsfield Rep.ChristopherSperanzo@Hou.State.MA.US 617-722-2080

    Michael J. Moran of Boston Rep.MichaelMoran@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2460

    Viriato Manuel deMacedo of Plymouth Rep.VinnyDemacedo@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2100

    Karyn E. Polito of Shrewsbury Rep.KarynPolito@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2230

    Lewis G. Evangelidis of Holden Rep.LewisEvangelidis@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2263

    Paul J. P. Loscocco of Holliston Rep.PaulLoscocco@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2220

    Jeffrey Davis Perry of Sandwich Rep.JeffreyPerry@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2396

    Daniel K. Webster of Hanson Rep.DanielWebster@hou.state.ma.us 617-722-2487




    Action Alert
    House Bill 4199: An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition
    August 15, 2007


    On July 31, the Public Health Committee approved the School Nutrition Bill. The bill has been simplified but ensures that only healthy snacks and drinks are sold in schools. Some of the bill’s very specific standards have been replaced with a requirement that the Department of Public Health issue regulations that reflect new standards recommended by the Institute of Medicine in April 2007. The bill now heads to the Health Care Financing Committee with a new number – House Bill 4199.

    Your help is needed to pass House Bill 4199:

      • Contact your state legislators and urge them to support House Bill 4199: An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition.

      • Ask your school board members, PTA, church, or hospital to endorse this bill.

      • Write a letter to your local newspaper in support of this bill.
    For more information contact Eric Weltman at Massachusetts Public Health Association (617) 524-6696 Ext. 111 or
    EWeltman@MPHAweb.org,

    The Problem:

    Soda and junk food are feeding an epidemic of obesity and diabetes among our children.
    Rates of obesity among children have more than doubled in the past two decades.
    Children are over-eating food and drinks high in fat and sugar. One source of this problem is the sale of junk food in schools. The easy availability of candy bars, chips, and soda in school vending machines encourage unhealthy eating habits. (Massachusetts Public Health Association)

    A Solution:

    Healthy food choices for children in school.

    House Bill 4199, An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition, sponsored by State Representative Peter Koutoujian, is an important part of the solution. Schools should provide only nutritious food options to help children learn good eating habits and reduce the risk of health problems In Massachusetts public schools, it proposes to:
      • Replace sodas with healthier drinks, such as water, low- and non-fat milk, and juice

      • Set healthy standards for fat and sugar in snacks

      • Make fresh fruits and vegetables available in cafeterias



    ______________________________________________________________________
    House Bill 4119
    An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition
    Sample Written Testimony in Support of Bill


    August 14, 2007

    Dear members of the Joint Committee of Health Care Financing,

    On behalf of the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization (MSNO), this letter is written in support of H 4199 An Act To Promote Proper School Nutrition, sponsored by State Representative Peter Koutoujian. School nurses are very concerned that the rates of obesity among children have more than doubled in the past two decades. We are responding to the health care needs of an increasing number of overweight or obese children in school, who are experiencing the health risks and complications associated with diabetes, asthma, heart disease, depression and low self-esteem. These health risks and medical conditions impact the children’s ability to learn and grow into healthy adults.

    Children learn healthy lifestyle habits during childhood and one of those habits should be healthy eating. Schools have the opportunity to teach and support the development of healthy nutritional habits, by providing only nutritious food options. School nurses recognize that children are over-eating food and drinks high in fat and sugar and are concerned about the available source of soda and junk food in school. The easy availability of junk food including candy bars, chips, and soda in school vending machines enables unhealthy eating habits.

    MSNO supports the proposed legislation of H 4199 to offer healthier food choices for children in school. through the initiation of replacing sodas with healthier drinks, such as water, low- and non-fat milk, and juice; establishing healthy standards for fat and sugar in available snacks, and to ensure fresh fruits and vegetables are available in cafeterias

    In order to promote a generation of healthy children and prevent the health risks and conditions that are an expected outcome of the current epidemic of childhood obesity and diabetes, please support H 4199, An Act to Promote Proper School Nutrition.

    Thank you for your consideration and concern about children’s health needs.

    Sincerely,

    Maryalice Stamer, APRN, BC, PNP
    President- Elect, Massachusetts School Nurse Organization




    NASN Call for Action
    Ensure Medicaid Reimbursement for Schools
    August 20, 2007


    ACTION ALERT concerning elimination of reimbursement under Medicaid for school administration and transportation (Proposed Rule 2287)


    CMS to Cut Reimbursement for Administrative and Transportation Services!
    New Regulation to be Published This Month


    NASN’s Director of Government Affairs, Mary Louise Embrey clarified previous instructions to contact Secretary Leavitt to indicate opposition to the elimination of reimbursement under Medicaid for school administration and transportation per the forth coming Proposed Rule 2287 which is scheduled for issuance in the Federal Register on August 30, 2007.

    Watch the Federal Register Web site (http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html) and comment within 60 days of its issuance, by the deadline of 5pm E.S. T. Nov. 30th. In commenting, please refer to file code CMS-xxxx-P.

    Only written comments may be counted as official public comments (ie. not phone calls) Also, because of staff and resource limitations, they cannot accept comments by facsimile (FAX) transmission.

    You may submit comments in one of the following ways (no duplicates, please):
      1. Electronically. You may submit electronic comments on specific issues in this regulation to http://www.cms.hhs.gov/eRulemaking . Click on the link "Submit electronic comments on CMS regulations with an open comment period." (Attachments should be in Microsoft Word, WordPerfect, or Excel; however, we prefer Microsoft Word.)

      2. By regular mail. You may mail written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address ONLY:
        Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,
        Department of Health and Human Services,
        Attention: CMS2287P,
        Mail Stop S31422
        7500 Security Boulevard
        Baltimore, MD 21244


      Please allow sufficient time for mailed comments to be received before the close of the comment period (Nov. 30)

      3. By express or overnight mail. You may send written comments (one original and two copies) to the following address ONLY:
        Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services,
        Department of Health and Human Services,
        Attention: CMS2287P,
        Mail Stop S31422
        7500 Security Boulevard
        Baltimore, MD 21244



    Action Alert
    Protect Your Practice and MA School Children
    MSNO and MNA
    August 13, 2007


    HB1139, An Act Authorizing Self Monitoring and Self Treatment for Students with Diabetes, is currently before the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. (To learn more, please read MSNO's 3-07 Legislative Alert by clicking here.) Advocates for HB 1139, An Act Authorizing Self Monitoring and Self Treatment for Students with Diabetes have contacted superintendents in cities and towns to urge them to support this legislation.

    HB 1139 would put children at risk and compromise nurses' scope of practice. The bill would allow families to determine how diabetes is managed in school without input from the school nurse, and allow non-medical employees in a school to make assessment decisions about sick children and to administer emergency medication (glucagon).

    Action Please do it today!



    Points to emphasize:
      * Diabetes is a serious condition and complications require intervention from a licensed professional.

      * Administering glucagon is a complicated procedure, as is assessing a student who is unconscious or seizing.

      * Current regulations encourage collaboration between parents and the school. HB1139 would eliminate this collaboration.
    Urge Your Legislators to Oppose HB1139
    Allowing people with no medical training to perform medical assessments and administer emergency medication puts our children at risk and compromises nurses' scope of practice!

    Contact your legislator today!



    Action Alert
    Call Your Legislators about House Bill 1139
    Regarding Students with Diabetes
    Marie DeSisto, MSNO President
    March 13, 2007


    Dear School Nurse Colleagues,

    Representative Kafka (Stoughton) and Senator Moore have filed bills on behalf of the American Diabetes Association that would remove the care of students with diabetes away from the school nurse. It would also require teachers or staff to administer glucagon in an emergency. You can find the bill by going to this link:
    (At the bottom of the page clink on: Current Legislation. Go to Text of House Bills. Search for HB 1139.)

    This is a dangerous House Bill, that has been filed by a powerful group. We need to organize and stop this for the health and safety of our students. This cannot be ignored. You cannot expect anyone else to do this. Each school nurse must help. Each nurse needs to get a parent to call. This is critical. If this passes then the Epilepsy group will have a Bill to delegate Diastat, etc. This puts students and school departments at risk, and will gut school nursing in Massachusetts.

    HB 1139 will be heard tomorrow by the Health Care Finance Committee; you are not limited to calling or writing tomorrow. But do it as soon as possible.

    You can link to the committee members at:


    Or if that doesn't work, the committee members are:
    Moore of Worcester and Norfolk - Chair
    Tolman of Second Suffolk and Middlesex
    Jehlen of Second Middlesex
    Fargo of Third Middlesex
    Spilka
    Candaras
    Tarr
    Walrath
    Kulik
    Hynes
    Koczera
    Khan
    Linsky
    Kane
    Kocot
    Speranzo
    D'Amico
    Puppolo
    Hargraves
    Gifford




    Action Alert
    Professional Status DOE Advisory
    Marie DeSisto,MSN
    MSNO President
    June 21, 2007


    The Department of Education's "Advisory Opinion on School Nurses and Eligibility for Professional Teacher Status" was posted on the DOE website earlier this week. Here is the link to the advisory: www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/advisory/061807nurses.html.

    This is an important step for Massachusetts school nurses. It took a year for the DOE to act on this legislation, which passed in July 2006. However, now it is officially part of Massachusetts General Law that school nurses have professional status and are Professionals!!! This is another step forward.

    This week Kathy Hassey, Ann Farrell and I testified to support HB 430 and SB 349, "An Act to Ensure Adequate School Nursing Services". Luckily many school nurse advocates joined us such as MTA, MFT, MNA, Representative Kahn and the Massachusetts Public Health Association. No other school nurses attended.

    ______________________________________________________________________

    House Bill 430
    An Act Ensuring Adequate Nursing Services at Public Schools


    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: SECTION 1. Section 53 of chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended in its entirety to read as follows:

      Section 53. The School committee shall appoint school physicians; nurse practitioners and registered nurses with the DOE licensure, shall assign them to the public schools within its jurisdiction, shall provide them with all the proper facilities for the performance of their duties, and shall assign one or more physicians or nurse practitioners operating under the direction of the physician to the examination of children who apply for health certificates required by section eighty-seven of chapter one hundred forty-nine, but in cities where the medical inspection hereinafter prescribed is substantially provided by the board of health, said board shall appoint and assign the school physicians; nurse practitioners and registered nurses with DOE school nurse licensure, provided however that school districts must meet minimum staffing requirements of school physicians; nurse practitioners and registered nurses with DOE school nurse licensure established by the Department of Public Health and that each school with five hundred or more students shall be assigned at minimum one full-time physician, nurse practitioner or registered nurse with DOE school nurse licensure.


    Senate Bill No. 1508
    The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
    AN ACT RELATIVE TO A RETIREMENT BUY-BACK FOR SCHOOL NURSES


    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
      SECTION 1. Subdivision (1) of section 4 of chapter 32 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after paragraph (i) the following Paragraph:
      Any member who is employed as a public school nurse and who has previously been employed as a private nurse may establish such private service as creditable service, for a period not to exceed 3 years, by depositing in the annuity savings fund of the system of which he/she is a member the amount which would have been withheld as regular deductions from his salary for such service, plus regular interest to the date of such deposit.



    Articles in the News Responding to Proposed Restrictions on SCHIP Expansion


    The New York Times (8/20/07)
    "Bush Administration Set New Standards to Restrict SCHIP Expansion"

    Federal officials have drafted new standards that call for states to demonstrate they have enlisted at least 95% of eligible children that fall below 200% of the federal poverty level before making any changes to enrollment rules for the State Children's Health Insurance Program, according to a letter sent to state health officials. Some state officials said the standards could imperil their efforts to cover more children by imposing standards that could not be met.


    The Boston Globe (8/20/07)
    "Children May Lose Out on Insurance: New US Rules, State Plan Linked"
    by Alice Dembner, Globe Staff (August 22, 2007)

    Thousands of Massachusetts children from low-income families could be denied health insurance under new rules imposed by the Bush administration late last week. The rules could cut federal matching funds for a state-run program that is a key component of the state's health insurance initiative.

    But congressional leaders, including Senator Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, said yesterday that they would fight the changes, which are the latest volley in the national battle over the future of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, or SCHIP.

    Using a combination of state and federal funds, the program covers some 6.6 million children nationally and 90,500 in Massachusetts in low-income families.

    As part of its health insurance reform, Massachusetts expanded eligibility to children in families earning up to 300 percent of the federal poverty level, or $61,950 for a family of four. The change was made last year with federal approval and brought coverage to about 14,000 more Massachusetts children.

    In Massachusetts, the program is the main means of insuring children in families above the poverty level who do not qualify for Medicaid and who frequently cannot afford private insurance. The state's health insurance initiative did not include any other effort to cover children.

    The new federal rules could block enrollment of more children above 250 percent of the poverty level and could make it tougher for the state to continue covering about 4,500 already enrolled. State officials said they do not yet have a count of the number who are eligible but not enrolled. "We need to do further analysis to determine how these new requirements translate for Massachusetts," Stephanie Anthony, the state's deputy Medicaid director, said in a prepared statement. Healthcare advocates said the requirements would hurt the Massachusetts insurance initiative. "It would result in more kids in Massachusetts going without needed health insurance," said Brian Rosman, research director for Health Care for All. "It would . . . take away one of the essential components of comprehensive reform."

    At least 17 other states similarly expanded their coverage in recent years, and five more are considering these changes, according to Families USA, a healthcare advocacy group. But the Bush administration has become concerned about those expansions, and on Friday, the office that oversees the program sent a letter to state officials across the country imposing rules that would make it extremely difficult for most states to enroll new children from families with incomes above 250 percent of the federal poverty level.

    Children already enrolled in the program should not be cut off, according to Dennis Smith, the federal official who sent the letter, although Kennedy's staff and Massachusetts advocates suggested it might have that effect. "SCHIP was created for children in low-income families," said Smith, director of the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. "We want to make sure those kids are covered before we go to the higher-income kids."

    Smith said the administration is enforcing rules designed to ensure that the program is not substituting for private insurance. But supporters of the coverage expansion said the requirements were an attempt to circumvent congressional plans to extend the program and expand its funding. Both the House and Senate have passed bills to continue the SCHIP program for five years and allow enrollment of children from higher-income families, although Congress recessed for a summer break before resolving differences between the two bills. President Bush has previously threatened to veto the measures.

    "Once again, the Bush administration has shown itself to be out of touch and out of step with the priorities of working Americans," Kennedy said yesterday in a prepared statement. "The administration's action denies the promise of good health to thousands of children in communities across America."

    The federal government is requiring states to take a number of steps over the next year if they want to continue to cover children at higher incomes, and Anthony said Massachusetts meets only some of these requirements. Under the requirements, children must be without insurance for a year before they can be enrolled, and families of children in the program must pay fees for care similar to those paid by families with private insurance. In addition, the state must show that it has enrolled at least 95 percent of children below 200 percent of poverty and that the number of children insured through private companies has not dropped more than 2 percentage points over five years. The latter requirement is supposed to ensure that employers aren't dropping family coverage.

    The new requirements were first reported yesterday by The New York Times. In Massachusetts, a national survey from 2005 showed that 94.4 percent of children below 200 percent of poverty were insured, she said, close to the 95 percent requirement. But the state only imposes a six-month waiting period. She said the state will have to analyze whether its policies comply with the other rules.

    Alice Dembner can be reached at Dembner@globe.com.



    Legislative Thank Yous

    Representative Markey calls on Five Major Food
    and Beverage Marketers to Put Junk Food Ads on a Diet

    Kathy Hassey BA, BSN, MEd
    MSNO President
    July 15, 2007


    Please call and thank Rep. Markey at 202/226-2424, especially if you are in the MA 7th District. School nutrition is something many school nurses are focusing on.

    WASHINGTON : Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, sent letters to The Coca-Cola Company, General Mills, Kraft Foods, McDonald's and PepsiCo. asking each to voluntarily implement the same restrictions on marketing to children recently announced by the Kellogg Company. Last week, Kellogg agreed to adopt nutrition standards for the foods it markets to children and to place limits on its use of licensed characters and product placements in marketing directed at children.

    "While parents and families have an undeniable responsibility to steer their children toward healthy choices, the Institute of Medicine has linked the current unhealthy trend toward poor nutrition and childhood obesity in our country to the prevalence of television advertisements for fast food, junk food, sugared cereals, and other foods wholly lacking in nutritional value. If this trend continues, our children could be the first in generations to enjoy shorter life expectancies than their parents," said Rep. Markey. "These companies are some of the world's largest food and beverage marketers, and together they have the power to play a significant role in solving the childhood obesity problem through socially responsible advertising practices. I urge them to follow Kellogg's lead."

    Rep. Markey asked each company to commit to at least the same standards as the Kellogg Company put in place and to outline additional steps that may be warranted to safeguard kids from junk food ads during children's television programming, which have been found to negatively influence children's dietary and nutritional choices. The five companies that received letters are some of the world's largest food and beverage marketers and account for much of children's food and beverage advertising expenditures in the United States.

    On Friday, June 22nd, Rep. Markey chaired a hearing entitled "Images Kids See on the Screen," to explore the link between TV advertising and childhood obesity, and to ask whether regulatory or legislative solutions are needed to restrict food marketing on television to combat the serious public health issue of childhood obesity.

    Also see www.businessword.com for a great opinion piece on why Congress should curb junk food marketing to kids. It makes it sound like Congress taking action on junk food marketing to kids is inevitable, which is good to have companies read in BusinessWeek!

    LINKS to the letters:



    Legislative Thank Yous

    New Senate Chair of Public Safety Prioritizes School Safety
    July 13, 2007


    You may want to contact Senator Timility and thank him for prioritizing School Safety as an Issue for the Committee on Public Safety. See his contact information below.

    School Safety A Top Issue for New Senate Public Safety Chair

    Ensuring school safety and preventing the tragic school shootings that have horrified the nation are top priorities for Sen. James Timilty (D-Walpole), the new co-chairman of the Legislature's Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security. "That's a paramount issue in my district and across the Commonwealth," said Timilty, referencing conversations with police chiefs about being ready to react to school violence and to prevent it. In a brief interview after today's Senate session, Timilty, whose appointment by Senate President Therese Murray was made before the session, said gang violence and homeland security are other top priorities. Timilty opposes the death penalty and legislation allowing policy to pull over and cite motorist for not wearing seat belts.

    He succeeds Sen. Jarrett Barrios, who co-chaired the committee before resigning to work as president of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. Timilty joined the Senate in 2004 and most recently chaired the Joint Committee on Municipalities and Regional Government, a committee that will now be co-chaired by Sen. Anthony Petruccelli, who was sworn in today.

    Contact:
      The Honorable James E.Timilty
      Senate Chair, Joint Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee
      State House, Room 518, Boston, MA 02133
      Telephone: 617-722-1222
      Email: James.Timilty@state.ma.us



    Massachusetts Legislative Tracking Report April 30, 2008

    The following legislative tracking reports are provided for your reference. Some are present and past. Each bill also has a line indicating when the bill was heard and its last place of action (where it now resides). A color coding system highlighting certain significant bills will be employed.

    By color-coding certain bills, the tracking report gives you:
      The bills that may be important to you and MSNO members
      Notice of pending hearings
      A history of where the bills are moving.


    Bills of particular interest with hearings scheduled in the month will be highlighted in yellow. When bills are moving to another step, they will be highlighted as well, typically in aqua/turquoise color. The magenta highlight color is for a MSNO sponsored bill.

    So a quick eye-ball review of the report will let you know which bills are up for debate, either in the committee hearing or headed toward a step into the bill making process. This process allows you to get a review without putting your resources of time/expertise in too many spots... kinda like a triage system for your decision making.



    Click here for MA. Legislative Tracking Report (April 30,2008). pdf



    Senate Bill No. 100
    By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 100) of Richard T. Moore for legislation to establish a special commission to study essential health services in Massachusetts public schools. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.


    The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
    In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
    ________________________________________

    AN ACT ESTABLISHING A SPECIAL COMMISSION TO STUDY ESSENTIAL HEALTH SERVICES IN MASSACHUSETTS PUBLIC SCHOOLS

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

    SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law or regulation to the contrary, there is hereby established a special commission to study health services for students in Massachusetts public and non-public schools, including the current level of school health services, gaps in school health services, the health needs of school children, and the role of schools in addressing health services issues. The commission shall review relevant statistics from the department of education and the department of public health, shall identify the role of school health services in the community, and shall evaluate the impact of school health services on school attendance. The commission shall consist of the house and senate chairs of the joint committee health care, who shall serve as co-chairs of the commission, the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on education, arts, and humanities healthcare or their designees, and three members selected by the governor, including one representative from the department of education and one representative from the department of public health, and one representative member from the Massachusetts School Nurses Organization.

    In carrying out its investigation, the commission shall receive testimony from the public and interested organizations, including but not limited to the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, Massachusetts Charter School Association, Massachusetts Association of Secondary School Principals, Massachusetts Association of Elementary School Principals, the Massachusetts Teachers Association, the Massachusetts Federation of Teachers, the Parents Alliance for Catholic Education, the Massachusetts Nurses Association, the Massachusetts Public Health Association, the Massachusetts School Physicians Executive Committee, The Massachusetts Coalition of School-Based Health Centers, the Federation of Children with Special Needs, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of New England, and the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation.

    The commission shall submit a report and its recommendations, if any, together with any drafts of legislation necessary to carry such recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerks of the Senate and the House of Representatives, the joint committee on education, arts and humanities, and the joint committee on healthcare not later than November 24, 2008.



    Senate Bill No. 101
    By Mr. Moore, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 101) of Richard T. Moore for legislation relative to funding for school health programs. Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities.


    The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
    In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.
    ________________________________________

    AN ACT RELATIVE TO FUNDING FOR SCHOOL HEALTH PROGRAMS

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

    SECTION 1. Section 72 of chapter 44 of General Laws, as amended by section 55 of chapter 127 of the acts of 1999 is hereby further amended by inserting after the following sentence:- “Any funds received by a local government entity pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be considered unrestricted revenue of the local government entity and may be spent in accordance with any general or special law governing the expenditure of the entity’s revenues.”, the following sentence: “provided, however, that a city, town or regional school district shall deposit in a separate account for expenditure by the school committee no less than 75 percent of any such amount; provided, further, that a school committee may make expenditures from said separate account for the enhancement of school health services, including but not limited to school-based health centers and school nursing programs or any lawful health-educational purposes without further appropriation; provided further, that any expenditure from said account on items qualifying as net school spending shall supplement, and not substitute for, the net school spending requirement of the district; and provided, further, that the receipt of such funds shall not affect the calculation of the minimum required local contribution and state school aid as defined in section 2 of chapter 70.

    SECTION 2. Section 72 of chapter 44 of the General Laws as most recently appearing in the 2002 Official Edition is herby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following new subsection:- Section 72(a) The division of medical assistance shall promulgate rules and regulations to improve the efficiency of the Massachusetts Municipal Medicaid program in order to maximize the benefits received by state and local communities. Said rules and regulations shall include but shall not be limited to the development of a fee-for-service rate structure and billing methodology, implement oversight procedures to minimize incidents of improper payments, develop in conjunction with the department of education a more effective process for obtaining parental authorization to ensure that every district is maximizing their federal reimbursements under the Massachusetts municipal medicaid program for all eligible special needs students, develop in conjunction with the department of education a Municipal Medicaid section on the department’s website, and improve overall communications with school districts through the DOE.

    (b) The division shall take steps to review federal financial participation parameters to ensure that the state program captures all reimbursement opportunities, shall provide updated program materials and manuals and improve overall communications with school district providers and shall implement improved data management procedures to facilitate program monitoring, oversight and review.



    SAMPLE LETTERS


    Written Testimony
    Senate Bill No. 100


    On behalf of the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization (MSNO), this testimony is submitted in support of Senate Bill 100, “An Act Establishing a Special Commission to Study Essential Health Services in Massachusetts Public Schools”. As medical science, social economic worlds, and public health issues have evolved, the health needs of children have expanded, directly impacting the scope and delivery of school health services. Public and non- public schools across Massachusetts are educating increasing numbers of students who need the support of a full time school nurse for management of their chronic health conditions, including diabetes, asthma, life threatening allergies. School nurses promote healthy lifestyles, prevent risky behaviors, and respond to public health issues in the school community. School health services respond to the need to overcome barriers to accessing health care for children including poverty, homelessness, underinsurance, and cultural diversity. The commission will provide a comprehensive and current assessment of school health services today with the goal to reach out to all children with a level of services that addresses their diverse health care needs.

    MSNO supports the collaboration of the joint committee health care, joint committee on education, arts and humanities, and the appointed representatives from the Department of Education, Department of Public Health, and the Massachusetts School Nurse Organization. MSNO appreciates the opportunity to participate on this proposed commission to study the current School Health Services and contribute to recommendations that will ensure a future for each Massachusetts student for school health services that support their health, development, and safety while they learn.

    Please support Senate Bill 100, “An Act Establishing a Special Commission to Study Essential Health Services in Massachusetts Public Schools”. Thank you for your advocacy of school health services and the health care needs of the children of Massachusetts.

    Respectfully submitted,

    Maryalice Stamer, APRN, BC, PNP
    President- Elect, Massachusetts School Nurse Organization


    Written Testimony
    Senate Bill No. 101



    MSNO supports the proposal for a separate account of no less than 75% of the municipal medicaid reimbursement to local government that would ensure the enhancement of school health services that adequately respond to the needs of the students.

    Please support Senate Bill 101, “An Act Relative To Funding for School Health Programs ”. Thank you for your advocacy for the funding of essential school health services meeting the health care needs of the children of Massachusetts.

    Respectfully submitted,

    Maryalice Stamer, APRN, BC, PNP
    President- Elect, Massachusetts School Nurse Organization


    NASN Legislative Priorities for 2007


    Representative Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY-4th) plans to introduce a bill in the first quarter of the First Session of the 110th Congress that would improve the school nurse-to-student ratio. It would create a pilot grant program allowing federal assistance for states most in need of improving their ratio. All students have a right to have their health needs safely met while in the school setting. Current reality is that although students today have greater medical needs than in past generations, caseload assignments for nurses vary greatly throughout the U.S.

    NASN is asking members to work with Representative McCarthy’s office on this bill and become an original co-sponsor in support of a critical piece of legislation that will help to ensure that all students’ health needs are addressed.

    NASN sees the reauthorization of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) as an opportunity to improve the relationship between school health and the Department of Education (DoED). The law has requirements in IDEA which are not being met due to lack of funding. Fully funding IDEA and including a position for a National School Nurse within the leadership ranks of DoED would help guide the implementation of necessary health services for the increasing number of disabled students and students with chronic health conditions. In addition, the reauthorization of NCLB should ensure inclusion of pupil services personnel as essential members of the school staff. They are a critical link to school success for many students.

    School nurses are responsible for assisting students to basic health care services to ensure optimal health, growth, and development in support of their educational success. Therefore, NASN is in support of improvement to Medicaid and SCHIP through the reauthorization process.

    For further information, please visit www.nasn.org.



    School Health Advocacy Day Archives


    Sixth Annual School Health Advocacy Day
    Wednesday March 24, 2004
    Boston State House
    Nurses Hall
    8:30 AM to 11:30 AM


    School Health Advocacy Day 2004
    Tamara Bonaventure of East Boston and
    Anthony Delmonaco from Pembroke, speakers at the event.


    View More Photos From this Event

    "Students Stand up for School Nurses"
    By Kay Lazar
    Boston Herald
    Thursday, March 25, 2004

    For East Boston fifth-grader Tamar Bonaventure, losing the school nurse who has been by her side since kindergarten helping her with her sickle cell anemia would be like losing ``a whole part of my life.'' Westford second-grader Christopher Noran, a diabetic, said he relies on his school nurse to test his blood sugar four times a day and give him an insulin injection. The two joined dozens of students, school nurses and parents on Beacon Hill yesterday as they urged state lawmakers to restore $16.1 million for school health services. The governor eliminated funding for the services in his new budget - a move that would force the layoff of hundreds of school nurses and leave thousands of students without critical care, according to the Massachusetts School Nursing Services Collaborative. ``I was so happy to know she was by my side if anything went wrong,'' said Bonaventure, as she stood on tiptoe to speak into the microphone and describe the friendship she formed with her school nurse after being rushed to the hospital in kindergarten. Pembroke fourth-grader Anthony Delmonaco, an asthmatic who learned from his school nurse how to use an inhaler, said he didn't understand why the governor ``wants to spend money on changing the (Cape Cod) rotary, and at the same time take away our school nurses. ``To me,'' he said, ``a school nurse is more important than a rotary.''


    School Health Advocacy Day 2004

    While the health needs of Massachusetts’ students have grown increasingly complex, many thousands of students receive no, or inadequate, school health services. At the same time, Governor Romney has proposed elimination of the School Health Program in his FY’05 Budget. By discontinuing this successful program, school nurses will be laid off and thousands of children will no longer have access to needed nursing services which, in turn, will impact their ability to attend school.

    To help address this problem, school nurses, parents, students and health care advocates converged on the Massachusetts State House on Wednesday, March 24, 2004 from 8:30 A.M. – 11:30 A.M. for a School Health Advocacy Day.

    The event, hosted by the School Nurse Services Collaborative, featured a number of speakers including government officials, parents, school administrators and school nurse representatives. All hoped to educate legislators and demonstrate strong support for legislative efforts to reject the governor’s proposals and to reinstate the $12 million in funding that is needed to maintain the standard of care needed to service the growing population of students with mild to severe health needs. Among those speaking at the event was Anthony Delmonaco, a 10-year-old 4th grader from Pembroke, who helped galvanize support for this issue with letters he wrote that were published in both the Boston Globe and Patriot Ledger detailing his fears of losing access to his school nurse, who helps him cope with his asthma.   (CLICK HERE to read Anthony's full speech in support of his school nurse.)

    In 1998, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health presented a plan to the House and Senate Ways and Means Committees for the expansion of school health services. In FY 2001 and 2002, the legislature responded by increasing funding for school health services. In 2003, the legislature rejected the governor’s first attempt to eliminate the successful Enhanced School Health program that funds school nurses in cities and towns with children lacking access to adequate health care.

    School nurses provide a valuable social and health care safety net, particularly in tough economic times as school nurses are a primary source for poor or uninsured children to have access to health assessment. Also, in the wake of growing concerns over bioterrorism, school nurses provide a readily available resource for early detection and rapid response in local communities to a public health emergency.

    As early as 1992, a special commission relative to the practice of school nursing recognized the unmet needs of Massachusetts students and concluded, “Children attending schools in the Commonwealth today are faced not only with the usual and common infectious disease, they face the threat of other major health problems not always well understood by teachers, parents and the community. Special needs children integrated into classrooms of every town have significant health and