Union In Brief – December 2011

December 2011

Legal Representation Expense Reimbursement for UNAC/UHCP Members —

Upon completion of a written application by a UNAC/UHCP member, UNAC/UHCP may approve reimbursement of qualified expenses incurred as a result of a formal accusation, investigation notice, or formal settlement discussions and/or agreement with a California Healing Arts Board for the board governing the member’s healing arts licenses.  To find out how to apply and learn about limits and
exclusions, contact your UNAC/UHCP staff representative. The written application should proceed incurring the expense, but must be received by the UNAC/UHCP legal department in the San Dimas Office within 90 days of incurring the expense.

Legislative Win for Physician Assistants —

On September 26, Governor Brown signed Senate Bill 233 (SB 233), the Emergency Services and Care bill that allows a physician assistant to provide treatment and consultation in the emergency care setting. UNAC/UHCP has long supported this bill, and worked diligently along with many other groups to secure its passage and the signature of the Governor. SB 233 was introduced by Senator Fran Pavley (D-Agoura Hills).  This bill clarifies that a physician assistant can provide treatment and consultation in the emergency care setting.

Floating Orange County PAs Get Their Due —

At issue was whether Kaiser should compensate Physician Assistants with an hourly float differential when they were floated to numerous Medical Office Buildings. As one of the terms of the settlement agreement reached through mediation, 12 Orange County Orthopedic PAs will receive a monetary settlement for back pay due to them for floating differential that was not paid. Beyond Orange County, the agreement ensures that all Southern California region Advance Practice professionals, represented by UNAC/UHCP, who are already receiving the float differential will continue to receive it as long as they remain in their current float positions. More information is available on unacuhcp.org.

Save the Date: Los Angeles County Candidate Forum —

Forty five candidates for U.S. Congressional, State Senate, and State Assembly seats will each have 15 minutes to address officers from seven California AFSCME affiliates, including UNAC/UHCP, on December 10, 2011 and January 7, 2012. The candidate forums, taking place at the LA Metropolitan Water District next to Union Station in downtown, are an opportunity for us all to meet the candidates seeking to represent our communities in Sacramento or Washington, DC. For more information, please visit unacuhcp.org.