Proposed Testimony on HB576 - Relating to Health: Hearing 2/5/21 @ 8:30am

Written Testimony Presented Before the

House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Homelessness 

Hearing: February 5, 2021, 8:30 AM

Via Videoconference 

By Hawaiʻi – American Nurses Association (Hawaii-ANA) 

Chair Ryan I. Yamane, Vice Chair Adrian K. Tam, and members of the House Committee on Health, Human Services, and Homelessness, thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony in support of HB576. 

This measure authorizes Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) to independently provide medication or aspiration abortions, recognizing the safe and effective care provided by APRNs within the appropiate specialized scope of practice.  APRNs are primary care providers who may practice independently based on their practice specialty, including women’s health or as a certified nurse midwife. An APRN’s education and training include, but are not limited to, a graduate level degree in nursing and national certification that is specific to the APRN’s practice specialty, in accordance with nationally recognized standards of practice.  This measure affirms the APRNʻs professional responsibility to practice withing the scope afforded by these national standards and current Hawaiʻi statutes. 

Hawai’i-ANA agrees with the Hawaiʻi Board of Nursingʻs on-going support for recognizing the broad scope of practice underpinned by education, clinical training, and experience, afforded to APRNs within each specialty recognized in Chapter 453, Hawaii Revised Statutes.   

This measure also improves on equitable access to care for neighbor island women who are currently under-served by qualified licensed health care providers.  Allowing residents to stay in their own communities to receive high quality care with fewer financial and logistical barriers is a significant benefit of this measure. 

Hawaiʻi-ANA respectfully requests that HB576 be passed through this committee. Thank you for your continued support for measures that address the need for improving access to safe and effective healthcare provided by all primary healthcare providers in communities throughout Hawaiʻi.