NJSNA
Supports Insurance Bills for Medical Cannabis
Judith Schmidt, RN, the Chief Executive
Officer of the New
Jersey State Nurses Association/Institute
for Nursing (NJSNA/IFN) and Margaret Daingerfield, NJSNA
President, confirmed the continuing support of the NJSNA for the following bills to provide insurance coverage for medical
cannabis:
- S1944: Costs of medical cannabis to be reimbursed by
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund, Pharmaceutical Assistance to
the Aged and Disabled, Senior Gold Prescription Discount Program, and Criminal
Injuries Compensation Act of 1971.
- S1943/A4371: This
bill requires workers’ compensation, personal injury protection (PIP), and
health insurance coverage for the medical use of cannabis under certain
circumstances.
- A898/ S2828: Establishes program to subsidize purchase price of medical cannabis for registered qualifying patients enrolled in Medicaid or NJ FamilyCare programs.
When passed into law, these bills will make the medical
benefits of cannabis available to many residents who have been impoverished by
their illnesses or injuries.
These bills will also
reduce healthcare costs in the state. Cannabis stabilizes multiple conditions.
Greater access to cannabis therapy will result in:
- fewer hospitalizations;
- fewer surgical procedures; and,
- fewer emergency room visits.
Please join with the NJSNA/IFN in support of these bills.
Ken Wolski, RN, MPA
Executive Director, Coalition for Medical Marijuana--New Jersey, Inc.
219 Woodside Ave., Trenton, NJ 08618
609.394.2137 ohamkrw@aol.com
May 12, 2025
119TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. ll Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2025.
ReplyDeleteIN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Mr. MERKLEY submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee. RESOLUTION Supporting the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, to be observed from May 6 through May 12, 2025.
Whereas, beginning in 1991, National Nurses Week has been celebrated annually from May 6, also known as ‘‘National Recognition Day for Nurses’’ through May 12, the birthday of Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing; Whereas National Nurses Week is a time of year to reflect on the important contributions that nurses make in providing safe, high-quality health care; Whereas nurses serve on the front lines, risking their lives to treat the injured and sick during wartime, natural disasters, and public health emergencies; Whereas nurses are known to be patient advocates, acting to protect the lives of individuals under their care; Whereas nurses represent the largest single component of the health care profession, with an estimated population of more than 4,900,000 registered nurses in the United States; Whereas nurses are leading in the delivery of quality care in a transformed health care system that improves patient outcomes and safety; Whereas the Future of Nursing reports of the Institute of Medicine and National Academy of Medicine have highlighted the need for the nursing profession to meet the call for leadership in a team-based delivery model; Whereas, when nurse staffing levels increase, the risk of patient complications and lengthy hospital stays decrease, resulting in cost savings; Whereas nurses are experienced researchers, and the work of nurses encompasses a wide scope of scientific inquiry, including clinical research, health systems and outcomes research, and nursing education research; Whereas nurses provide care to all individuals across the United States; Whereas nurses are well-positioned to provide leadership, increase access to nursing care throughout the United States, and improve health outcomes for all patients; Whereas nurses are the cornerstone of the public health infrastructure, promoting healthy lifestyles and educating communities on disease prevention and health promotion; Whereas nurses help inform, educate, and work closely with legislators to improve the education, retention, recruitment, and practice of all nurses; and (2) the health and safety of the patients for whom the nurses care; Whereas there is a need to— (1) strengthen nursing workforce development programs at all levels, including the number of doctorally prepared faculty members; and (2) provide education to the nurse research scientists who can develop new nursing care models to improve the health status of all populations of the United States; Whereas nurses impact the lives of the people of the United States through every stage of life; and Whereas nursing has been voted the most honest and ethical profession in the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week, as founded by the American Nurses Association; (2) recognizes the significant contributions of nurses to the health care system of the United States; and (3) encourages the people of the United States to observe National Nurses Week with appropriate recognition, ceremonies, activities, and programs to demonstrate the importance of nurses to the everyday lives of patients.
https://www.merkley.senate.gov/merkley-wicker-joyce-bonamici-underwood-kiggans-lead-bipartisan-bicameral-resolution-celebrating-national-nurses-week/#:~:text=National%20Nurses%20Week%202025%20is,in%20patient%20care%20every%20day.