Month: February 2017

Legislation to Permit Home Health Certification by APRNs Re-Introduced in the Senate

  

Yesterday, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ben Cardin (D-MD) re-introduced S. 445, the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act . This legislation would allow nurse practitioners (NPs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) and certified nurse midwives (CNMs) to certify their patient’s eligibility for home health care services. ANA strongly supports S. 445.

Current Medicare policy prevents these advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) from providing appropriate care for their patients. Medicare has recognized the autonomous practice of these APRNs for nearly two decades, as they provide the majority of skilled care for home health patients. While these health care professionals are authorized to perform face-to-face assessments of a patient’s needs, a physician must certify their assessment. This legislation appropriately removes that burdensome requirement and ensures more timely access to home health services under Medicare.

While the date has not yet been set, ANA is working with House champions to introduce companion legislation. Last Congress, this legislation garnered 52 cosponsors in the Senate and 206 in the House. We will continue to advocate for passage of this important legislation and urge you to help advance this bill by contacting your Members of Congress.

Repeal WITHOUT Replace?!

  

Major policy changes require serious debate.

Congress is discussing the future of the Affordable Care Act – and the conversation in Washington right now could lead to a repeal without any plan for replacement, leaving care for your patients up in the air.

House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have the power to get Congress back on track – share your thoughts now on the Affordable Care Act and the impact you’ve seen it have on your patients. We’ll deliver your message right to their offices.

Nurses along with other health care providers, patients and advocates are speaking out against this plan – or lack thereof – and are calling for solutions that protect the most critical components of the law, including access to coverage.

Repealing without any replacement is simply irresponsible. The majority of Americans support the critical parts of the ACA – like protections for pre–existing conditions, retaining coverage for adult children, and increasing access to preventative services – all of which would be wiped away without a plan in place.

You know what your patients need. Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan don’t. It’s as simple as that.

Will you raise your voice to help stop this insanity? Share your experience and perspective with Speaker Ryan and Leader McConnell. Demand that they find a better way forward for all Americans.

Thank you for standing up for your patients!

Town halls, Boehner’s return, and an ACA replacement

  

Town Halls:

This week, Members of Congress across the country held town halls during this week’s district work period. These town halls largely focused on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the future of healthcare. Congressional Republicans, who hope to have the ACA repealed later this spring, faced throngs of constituents concerned over the uncertain future of the law. One of the most pointed moments came on Tuesday, when Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was confronted by a farmer in his state who protested that he wouldn’t be able to afford health insurance if it weren’t for the law’s healthcare subsidies.  Other constituents pleaded with the Senator, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, to simply reform the law rather than repealing it. Polls have recently shown the law’s growing popularity.

Boehner’s Back:

On Thursday, former Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) predicted that Congressional Republicans would not fully repeal and replace the ACA. Boehner insisted that changes would be made to the law, but that the structure would largely stay the same. He alleged that in his 25 years in Congress, “Republicans never, ever, one time agreed on what a health care proposal should look like.”

Next Week:

Congress is back in session next week. On Wednesday, the House Education and Workforce Committee are having a hearing on “Legislative Proposals to Improve Health Care Coverage and Provide Lower Costs for Families,” and on Thursday the House Committee on Energy and Commerce will have a hearing “Examining FDA’s Generic Drug and Biosimilar User Fee Programs.”

ACA Replacement Leak:

On Friday, a leaked draft bill from the House Energy & Commerce committee on an ACA replacement bill was making the rounds in Washington. The bill, dated February 10th, would phase out federal funds by 2020 for those states that expanded Medicaid. The draft also eliminates federal subsidies for individuals to obtain coverage, while adding a tax credit that would increase based on an individual’s age. The tax credit, which has been a longstanding Republican healthcare idea, would do away with income-based thresholds and would range between $2,000 and $4,000. The draft legislation is expected to go through several iterations before it’s sent to markup in mid-March. ANA’s Government Affairs and Health Policy teams will continue monitoring healthcare legislation; stay tuned for updates on Capitol Beat.