California Nurse Tax

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Feb 18, 2006

health professions education foundation:

mission statement

our mission is to improve healthcare in underserved areas of california by supporting the development of health professionals agreeing to serve in communities of most need. we accomplish our mission by awarding scholarships and loan repayments to health professional students and graduates who will provide direct patient care in medically underserved areas.

history

in the 1980s, our state faced an acute shortage of health professionals, especially in the inner cities and rural communities. health professionals predominantly practicing in those areas were themselves members of those communities. thus, one effective strategy evolved to increase the number of health professionals serving in medically underserved areas - support students from demographically underrepresented groups who are pursuing their health professions education.

the foundation was established in 1987 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation to encourage and support the participation of health professions students and graduates from underserved communities and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, and to increase their professional service in medically underserved areas upon completion of their education. we administer scholarship and loan repayment programs to health professional students and graduates, and in return for this support, program recipients agree to provide direct patient care in a medically underserved area of california.

accomplishments

since 1990, the foundation has awarded scholarships and loan repayments totaling over $11.5 million. these awards have assisted over 1,700 students and graduates fulfill their dream of pursuing a career in the health professions and caring for underserved populations. we have also established an endowment fund of over $1.7 million. the interest on the endowment fund is used to support special projects and newly-implemented programs....

funding

the foundation administers its programs from four funds established by state legislation:

the health professions education fund is funded entirely through grants and contributions from public and private agencies, hospitals, health plans, foundations, corporations, and individuals. these funds support newly-implemented programs and special projects. the allied healthcare education scholarship, the health professions education scholarship, the health professions loan repayment, and the youth for adolescent pregnancy prevention leadership recognition programs operate from this fund.
the registered nurse education fund is supported through a $10.00 surcharge for renewal of the registered nurse license in california. the pre-nursing scholarship, associate degree nursing scholarship, the bachelor of science nursing scholarship, and the bachelor of science nursing loan repayment programs operate from this fund.
the vocational nurse education fund is supported through a $5.00 surcharge for renewal of the vocational nurse license in california. the vocational nurse scholarship and vocational nurse loan repayment programs will operate from this fund; projected implementation of this program is fall 2005.
the mental health practitioner education fund is supported through a $10.00 surcharge for renewal of psychologist, marriage and family therapist, and licensed clinical social worker licenses in california. the mental health service provider loan repayment program will operate from this fund; projected implementation of this program is winter 2005.

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part of being in a professional occupation is contributing to the development of the profession. many persons seem to forget or abdicate this responsibility. nursing and medical professional organization membership is at an all time low allowing others to dictate our practice.

in order to maintain and strengthen the nursing profession by sustaining interest in nursing , preventing others from usurping our role (e.g. pt's are the one's responsible for wound care evals in one of my local hospitals...) we need to help nurture the next generation.

$5.00 -$10.00 cost of mcdonalds meal / one pizza/ 2-3 gourmet coffee's seams reasonable to me.

NurseKevin · Feb 18, 2006

Part of being in a professional occupation is contribuiting to the development of the profession. Many persons seem to forget or abdicate this responsibility. Nursing and medical professional organization membership is at an alltime low allowing others to dictate our practice.
In order to maintain and strengthen the nursing profession by sustaining interest in nursing , preventing others from upsurping our role (e.g. PT's are the one's resposible for wound care evals in one of my local hospitals...) we need to help nurture the next generation.
$5.00 -$10.00 cost of Mc Donalds meal / one pizza/ 2-3 gourmet coffee's seams reasonable to me.

So you are for the state government forcing you to donate to a charity against your will?

I understand your desire to foster interest in nursing, and create growth within the profession, but to me, this is forced a forced charity, that if it were that important (they are trying to get nurses to work in underserved/dangerous/high turnover areas..one of the criteria is that you serve 2 years in one of those areas) it seems that you would want to give incentive to current nurses to go and work those areas, instead of sending new/recent grads where they are going to be overwhelmed and intimidated right out of the gate..? Again, it also seems to me that if it were that important a program that it could be included in the general budget and not a stealth tax against nurses themselves...

The next piece of the puzzle is that if we accept the government forcing us to donate to this particular charity, what is the next one that they are going to force us to donate to? Change healthprofessions to prolife or planned parenthood, or stem cell research or the feasibility of colonizing mice on the moon and would your opinion stay the same.

I am patently against the communist/socialist principal of redistributing the wealth of others. I had already made a small donation to this charity, before that I saw that the State of California felt that I MUST donate to it. It seems just plain wrong, and it isn't the cost per se, it is the principal of it. We are already taxed enough, don't you think?

elkpark · Feb 18, 2006

Most (if not all) states have some sort of state funded scholarship program for nursing/health professions, and each state legislature makes its own decisions about how to fund that program. This is how CA has decided to fund its program. You're not being forced to contribute -- you have the choice of finding some other occupation besides nursing, or moving to another state ... However, if you wish to practice nursing in the state of CA, this is one of the conditions for licensure set by the state and it is within its rights to do so.

And how/why would funding the program through a general tax, as you mention a couple times, be any less of a "communist/socialist redistribution of wealth" than the license surcharge? The principle would be the same; it would just affect a larger number of people.

TypicalFish · Feb 18, 2006

$5.00 -$10.00 cost of Mc Donalds meal / one pizza/ 2-3 gourmet coffee's seams reasonable to me.

You are not getting it; the OP didn't say that he didn't want to give to a charity, or that the charity was completely bogus; his point was an excellent one; why should he be mandated, forced into donating anything-the point is not the money itself-it is being forced, without a voice, to support something. That's wrong. I give money and time frequently, contniuously to a variety of causes, but I would object if my state made me "donate" without any choice-that does not seem reasonable to me at all. I research and get to know who I donate to-I know that I agree with their philosophy, methods and work-why shouldn't the op have the right to do the same?

"you have the choice of finding some other occupation besides nursing, or moving to another state ." Please-what a unrealistic, pedantic and silly thing to say.

elkpark · Feb 18, 2006

You are not getting it; the OP didn't say that he didn't want to give to a charity, or that the charity was completely bogus; his point was an excellent one; why should he be mandated, forced into donating anything-the point is not the money itself-it is being forced, without a voice, to support something. That's wrong. I give money and time frequently, contniuously to a variety of causes, but I would object if my state made me "donate" without any choice-that does not seem reasonable to me at all. I research and get to know who I donate to-I know that I agree with their philosophy, methods and work-why shouldn't the op have the right to do the same?
"you have the choice of finding some other occupation besides nursing, or moving to another state ." Please-what a unrealistic, pedantic and silly thing to say.

Speaking of "not getting it," EVERY tax is about the taxpayers being "forced" to support some cause or project they may not want to (I bloody well object to the Iraq war, but am being forced to support it through my tax dollars anyway) -- why is this one any different? Your state "makes (you) 'donate' without any choice" every day. Why is this any different than paying gas taxes when you fill up your car or sales tax when you stock up at Wal-Mart? If the point is that you and the OP object to any and all taxes, fine; but why single this one out as especially outrageous?

And, again, if the $10 is that much of a BFD for the OP, he doesn't have to renew his license ... He does have a choice.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Feb 18, 2006

money itself-it is being forced, without a voice, to support something

But one had a voice when legislation was being presented to add this surcharge. Obviously it passed muster and became law. I see more benefits than problems with this legislative mandate. Govement has the right to legislate our profession under states rights. That's why we have state license for professionals, drivers license, homeownership etc. insted of federal level. If you don"t like the law, time to speak up is when legislation introduced.

NurseKevin · Feb 18, 2006

Most (if not all) states have some sort of state funded scholarship program for nursing/health professions, and each state legislature makes its own decisions about how to fund that program. This is how CA has decided to fund its program. You're not being forced to contribute -- you have the choice of finding some other occupation besides nursing, or moving to another state ... However, if you wish to practice nursing in the state of CA, this is one of the conditions for licensure set by the state and it is within its rights to do so.
And how/why would funding the program through a general tax, as you mention a couple times, be any less of a "communist/socialist redistribution of wealth" than the license surcharge? The principle would be the same; it would just affect a larger number of people.

Yes, the principal would indeed be the same, however, the state legislature would actually have to respond to its constintuents as to why to raise the tax, what is being funded, to whom, and how. ANY government program that gives dollars from taxes from one individual to another is redistribution of wealth, you are correct. But generally, these programs are covered by the "promote the general welfare..." piece of the Constitition.

The stated goal is to improve healthcare for Californians and the method to reach the goal is get RNs into areas that are difficult to keep nurses. If the goal is to the benefit of ALL californians, then why not tax all Californians?

NurseKevin · Feb 18, 2006

But one had a voice when legislation was being presented to add this surcharge. Obviously it passed muster and became law. I see more benefits than problems with this legislative mandate. Govement has the right to legislate our profession under states rights. That's why we have state license for professionals, drivers license, homeownership etc. insted of fedral level. If you don"t like the law, time to speak up is when legislation introduced.

Nope... I wasnt a resident of California, I was a resident of TX, (well actually, I have spent my entire adult life in the military... but niether here nor there...) I JUST found out about the surcharge.

as far as the 10 bucks being such a BFD... As I stated before, I donated to this foundation on my own..without having been forced. and in case you didnt catch the part about not all of the monies going to the fund...they don't sometimes as little of 30% collected gets to the fund to be given out... so there has to be a better way to get the money to the fund.

NurseKevin · Feb 18, 2006

Speaking of "not getting it," EVERY tax is about the taxpayers being "forced" to support some cause or project they may not want to (I bloody well object to the Iraq war, but am being forced to support it through my tax dollars anyway) -- why is this one any different? Your state "makes (you) 'donate' without any choice" every day. Why is this any different than paying gas taxes when you fill up your car or sales tax when you stock up at Wal-Mart? If the point is that you and the OP object to any and all taxes, fine; but why single this one out as especially outrageous?
And, again, if the $10 is that much of a BFD for the OP, he doesn't have to renew his license ... He does have a choice.

If you want to argue politics we can, but this isnt the place, and just for your information many of the taxes that go to all sorts of social, defense, public, arts, whatever funds irk me greatly. I complain about those too, and loudly. I present my views to the representives as much as I can. However, since you asked why this one is "so outrageous" to be posted here...well, my friend, this is (or isn't?) a nursing board with nursing issues.

Oh yeah, the Iraq war, that falls under "provide for the common defense" not under the promote the general welfare..which are what the social programs do. I understand that the left wants us to move to a socialist state, but there are a few of us that want to avoid it.

SFCardiacRN · Feb 18, 2006

I love living in CA and make good money but sometimes I think we should change the name to Taxifornia. Ca even taxes your retirement no matter what state you move to after retirement!

casualjim · Feb 18, 2006

its anarchy I tell you, anarchy!

I get a ton more of my "wealth" (there's a laugh) redistributed in income taxes, state taxes, sales taxes, so on and so on. I have no clue where all of that goes. When I was in the Navy (21 year of fun in the sun) I used to like to think that some of it went to paying my own salary, just for the irony of it all.

Whether I agree with it or not, I at least know where this money is going. the doofus of the week living at 1600 Pennsylvania Av gets a lot more leeway and a lot less scrutiny over a bunch more money.

anarchy

(but as always, smiling)

aloha

Jim