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Health Policy & Advocacy Committee


HPAC Purpose and Objectives

To promote awareness within the DNA of issues and concerns in the area of Health Policy and Advocacy that assists DNA and it’s members to achieve their strategic goal of effectively advocating for members, patients, and the general public by:

  1. increasing membership involvement and understanding in health policy and advocacy efforts.
  2. acting as a resource for information on issues related to health policy and advocacy.
  3. working with members to investigate, consider, report, and act on advocacy issues commensurate with DNA’s Strategic plan.
  4. facilitating membership awareness, discussions, and activities.

If you are interested in more information or have any questions, please contact DNA via email: dna@dnanurse.org.

HPAC News

Indiana and Maryland become first states to pass sunscreen law in 2018.

The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association introduced model sunscreen legislation in 2016.  The program and model bill are dubbed SUNucate and the purpose is to allow children to bring sunscreen to school without a doctor’s prescription or note. Because sunscreen is classified as an over-the-counter drug by the FDA, children in many school districts across the country are required to bring a prescription from a physician in order to possess or use sunscreen at their school or camp.

To date, nine states have been successful in getting their bills passed. Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Ohio, Utah, and Washington passed legislation in 2017. So far in 2018, Indiana and Maryland passed bills.

DNA members have been involved in advocating for this legislation. If your state has a bill in the pipeline we urge you to get involved.  If your state is not among the active ones and you would like to learn how to go about getting a bill introduced, the Health Policy and Advocacy Committee can help guide you.  Contact the Chair, Maura Flynn or any of the members via email at: dna@dnanurse.org

You may track news and progress by following the SUNucate blog at: https://sunucate.org/

Health Policy & Advocacy Committee Members

Maura A. Flynn, RN, MPP, DNC, Chair
Nancy Smail, RN, BOD Liaison
Karen Fairbrother, BSN, CDE, DNC
Elizabeth Fildes, LPN
Gayle Peterson, RN-BL
Dr. Katherine Shue-McGuffin
Jessica Simmons,MSN, APN, FNP-C, CWON, DNC