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Legislative Externs Fall ‘09/Spring ‘10. Summer Lan Franco. Sareena Smith. Public Policy and Advocacy. the act or process of advocating or supporting a cause or proposal. Why is it important?. Knowledge is Power! Taking Action will: Advance our profession
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Legislative Externs Fall ‘09/Spring ‘10 Summer Lan Franco Sareena Smith
Public Policy and Advocacy the act or process of advocating or supporting a cause or proposal
Why is it important? • Knowledge is Power! • Taking Action will: • Advance our profession • Affect our future careers in the nutrition field • Salaries • Job Opportunities • Insurance Coverage & Reimbursements
Licensure • Licensing • Includes an explicitly defined Scope of Practice • What dietitians can and cannot do in practice • Performance of the profession is illegal without first obtaining a license from the state • Over 30 states provide licensure for dietitians • CA currently does NOT have licensure for dietitians http://www.cdrnet.org/certifications/licensure/index.htm
Pros and Cons of Licensure • Pros • Provides more credibility for dietitians: recognition as nutrition experts • More authority • Possibly higher salaries • Cons • More responsibility and liability • Annual licensing fee
Business and Professions Codes • Defines our Scope of Practice • Excerpt from the Practice Act (2586) • “An RD,… upon referral by a healthcare provider authorized to provide dietary treatments, provides nutritional dietary counseling, conducts nutritional and dietary assessments….” • http://law.justia.com/california/codes/bpc/2585-2586.8.html • Steps Towards Licensing • Re-write Business and Professions Codes • Appoint a Licensing Committee
How we can get involved • Actions Alerts • Letters = votes • https://boxer.senate.gov/en/contact/policycomments.cfm • Join American Dietetic Association • $50 per year for student membership • $250 after you graduate • Stay updated on current legislation • On the Pulse every week from ADA
People to know • Barbara Boxer- State Senator • Diane Feinstein - State Senator • Wally Herger – Congressman CA’s 2nd district Sam Aanestad-State Senator for District 4 Dan Logue- State Assemblyman for 3rd District
To explore more about laws governing practice in CA • http://www.dietitian.org/member_council_public_policy.htm#professional • http://www.publichealthadvocacy.org/legislation.html