ANA Capitol Beat – Page 4

Courts Block Rules That Would Restrict Women’s Access to Reproductive Health Care Services

Federal courts this week blocked two Interim Final Rules (IFRs) from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would have significantly expanded the ability of employers to deny coverage of contraceptives for female employees on the basis of religious or moral objections.

On January 14^th, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania issued an order granting the motion for a preliminary nationwide injunction blocking the implementation of the two IFRs from HHS that would have expanded the ability of employers to cite moral and religious objections in seeking exemptions from the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) contraceptive mandate. That mandate requires all employers that provide employer-sponsored insurance for their employees to cover contraceptives, with narrow exemptions (e.g., religious entities and closely held for-profit corporations).

The Pennsylvania ruling followed a January 13^th ruling from the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California also blocking the implementation of these two IFRs in the 13 plaintiff states in that lawsuit (California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington), plus the District of Columbia; the judge in the Northern District of California prominently cited ANA’s amicus curiae brief in his order granting the motion for a preliminary injunction.

These IFRs would be particularly damaging given the administration’s proposed regulatory changes to Title X funding, which provides grants for critical family planning services for millions of Americans, particularly low-income women. HHS itself notes in its analysis of the blocked IFRs that they would result in over 125,000 more women relying on Title X programs for reproductive health care services, even as the administration has taken steps that would restrict the ability of Title X programs to provide those services.

These injunctions block HHS from implementing the two IFRs, which were supposed to go into effect on January 14^th; the narrower Obama-era exemption policy remains in place during the injunction. It is worth noting that two nearly identical IFRs were also blocked in the same district courts in December 2017. Experts widely expect the defendants in these cases to appeal to the U.S. Courts of Appeals in the Third Circuit and the Ninth Circuit, respectively.

ANA firmly believes in universal access to comprehensive and affordable health care services for all Americans. Access to basic, preventive reproductive health care, such as birth control, cancer screenings, STI testing and treatment, and well-woman exams is critical to the overall well-being of women of all ages and is an essential health benefit. ANA will continue to advocate for universal access to quality, affordable, and accessible health care services, including basic, preventive reproductive health care services, for all Americans.

Occupational licensure reform: 2019 and beyond

Janet Haebler MSN RN

The 2018 midterm elections clearly got voters’ attention with reportedly the highest turnout since 1952 which ushered in a flood of new faces to state legislatures nationwide. More than 23 percent of state legislative seats will be filled by new policymakers, including record numbers of women. New governors were also elected in nineteen states. What might this mean for policies in 2019?

As different as the political and social landscape may be from state to state, commonalities exist. Stimulating the economy is a consistent priority. While many states boast they’ve experienced a recovery from the 2007-2008 recession, increasing revenues and limiting expenses is important for continued investment in business and workforce growth. Policymakers as well as employers face challenges in identifying what the workforce needs will be for the future and how to sustain growth, while simultaneously putting out fires regarding current needs. Healthcare is a prime example that has seen regional shortages, changes in practice delivery, and a widespread desire to increase diversity. As such, it seems logical that barriers and opportunities for entry into the workforce should be examined, a discussion which inevitably touches on the question of occupational licensure.

Currently one in four occupations in the US necessitates a license and requirements can vary significantly from state to state. One quarter of all licensed workers are in health care. The acceleration of licensure requirements in the past several decades has drawn criticism for creating unnecessary challenges to enter the job market while limiting mobility between states. Licensure has been justified by legislators and advocates as essential to protect the public from low quality services and/or potential health risks. But studies have been inconclusive that licensing has increased quality. Some have argued that licensure has not only created a barrier for certain populations to entering the workforce but has also limited competition and resulted in increased costs for the consumer.

A 2015 report entitled Occupational Licensing Framework for Policymakers from the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers and Departments of Labor and Treasury spurred a number of states to introduce legislation that would lessen barriers to entry caused by occupational licensing, find the least restrictive form of regulation, and continue to ensure the health and safety of the consumer. The report noted that current licensure rules impose burdens on workers, employers, and consumers, and “too often are inconsistent, inefficient, and arbitrary.”

Triggered by the 2015 report, the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration awarded funding to the National Conference of State Legislatures, in partnership with The Council of State Governments and National Governors Association Center for Best Practices, to launch a three-year project that would: 1) ensure that existing and new licensing requirements are not overly broad or burdensome and don’t create unnecessary barriers to labor market entry; and 2) improve portability for selected occupational licenses across state lines. The national partners are convening state policymakers and experts in the field of occupational licensing, producing research, including a report, and delivering technical assistance to states.

Supporters for de-regulation contend licensure growth can negatively influence wages and increase cost to the consumers. It is suggested that the cost to attain and maintain a license can be transferred to the consumer with higher charges for services. Licensure processing can lead to a delay in employability, while varying licensure requirements between states can restrict mobility across state borders.

Nursing is not an occupation that’s included in the current grant-funded research, but there are potential impacts for the profession as interest in occupational licensure reform increases. Nursing practice is still not well understood by the public. While the physical skills and tasks are recognized, the cognitive function is least appreciated. A lack of understanding of the intricacies of an occupation can lead to decisions with unintended consequences.

For example, removing licensure requirements or modifying licensure standards for other healthcare workers can influence nursing practice and care, as well as services delivered. We have seen state legislation to support military members transitioning to civilian life. Specific to nursing, veterans with healthcare experience are awarded credit in lieu of completion of a nursing education program for eligibility to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCELX). Removing the licensure requirement for nursing assistants, medication aides and/or similar healthcare workers has caused mixed reactions for the healthcare worker, the employer, and patients/consumers.

At the center of these discussions are state policymakers, who establish most occupational licensure requirements and for whom the goals of consumer protection and economic opportunity and growth are of interest. As with any proposed policy change, it’s critical to consider the potential unintended consequences. Regardless of your perspective, it’s in everyone’s best interest to actively join our elected officials in these conversations.

Preliminary findings of the grant project can be found here.

White House Report Promotes Full Practice Authority for RNs and APRNs

The White House yesterday released a report entitled “Reforming America’s Healthcare System Through Choice and Competition” that describes the influence of state and federal laws, regulations, guidance, and policies on choice and competition in health care markets and identifies actions that states or the federal government could take to develop a better functioning health care market.

This report bears great news for RNs and APRNs. It recognizes and promotes the role that RNs and APRNs play in patient care and recommends that the federal government and state governments should allow RNs and APRNs (and other allied health professionals) to practice to the full extent of their education and training. The report makes the following recommendations regarding scope of practice:

States should consider changes to their scope-of-practice statutes to allow all healthcare providers to practice to the top of their licenses, utilizing their full skill sets.
The federal government and states should consider accompanying legislative and administrative proposals to allow non-physician and non-dentist providers to be paid directly for their services where evidence supports that the provider can safely and effectively provide that care.
States should consider eliminating requirements for rigid collaborative practice and supervision agreements between physicians and dentists and their care extenders (e.g., APRNs, physician assistants, hygienists) that are not justified by legitimate health and safety concerns.

The report also promotes the use of telehealth services, noting that, “telehealth has great potential to improve access in underserved locations, reduce costs, and generate improved short- and long-term health outcomes.” The report makes several recommendations regarding telehealth:

States should consider adopting licensure compacts or model laws that improve license portability by allowing healthcare providers to more easily practice in multiple states, thereby creating additional opportunities for telehealth practice.
States and the federal government should explore legislative and administrative proposals modifying reimbursement policies that prohibit or impede alternatives to in-person services, including covering telehealth services when they are an appropriate form of care delivery.
States generally should consider allowing individual healthcare providers and payers to mutually determine whether and when it is safe and appropriate to provide telehealth services, including when there has not been a prior in-person visit.
Congress and other policymakers should increase opportunities for license portability through policies that maintain accountability and disciplinary mechanisms, including permitting licensed professionals to provide telehealth service to out-of-state patients.

ANA’s comments to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) expressed our support to expand telehealth services to Medicare beneficiaries, especially in areas in which RNs and APRNs provide care, and ANA encourages the administration to continue to consider the role that RNs and APRNs – able to practice to the full extent of their education and training – play in providing primary care, telehealth, and other health care services to increase access to beneficiaries, also recognizing that reimbursement is necessary to not only provide the services, but to also fill the void in certain specialties and geographies.

ANA applauds the White House for recognizing through this report the crucial role that RNs and APRNs play in the U.S. health care system and for promoting innovative telehealth strategies that will better allow them to practice to the full extent of their education and training. ANA also commends the administration’s recent expansion – through the CY 2019 Medicare Part B Physician Fee Schedule final rule – of telehealth services for prolonged preventive health services and for purposes of treatment of a substance use disorder or a co-occurring mental health disorder. These common-sense strategies will allow RNs and APRNs to maximize their significant contributions to quality patient care and outcomes.