NHNPA Shines at AANP Region 1 Meeting

A big thank you to Jillian Belmont, former NHNPA President and NH Liaison to AANP, for representing New Hampshire at the AANP Region 1 meeting. Here’s an update on recent legislative milestones and advocacy efforts for NH NPs:

• Legislative Achievement: SB 556, signed into law by Governor Sununu and effective January 1, 2025, prohibits health carriers from setting payment or reimbursement terms based solely on a participating APRN’s license. This important step toward payment parity and sustainable reimbursement ensures improved access to care for patients across NH. This success was driven by NHNPA’s Government Affairs Committee, dedicated volunteers and lobbyists, The Duet Group, Wendy Wright, and our AANP colleagues.
• Educating Legislators on NP Roles: Partnering with AANP, NHNPA continues to advocate for an accurate understanding of APRN roles. This initiative arose from the PA scope bill (HB 1222), which removed the need for PAs to maintain collaborative agreements with physicians in specific cases. During this legislative process, a side-by-side comparison of PA and NP education and preparation was shared, revealing some inaccuracies that NHNPA and AANP worked to correct. The bill also established a mandated study commission focused on examining PA education and practice. The study commission was required to collaborate with NHNPA and we participated in their meetings and offered our assistance. We are eagerly waiting to view the draft report!

Thank you to all who contributed to these efforts, championing the role of NPs and supporting quality healthcare across New Hampshire!