National Nurses Week Recognized on Capitol Hill

  

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In honor of National Nurses Week, ANA has worked with Congress to celebrate nurses for their expertise, compassion, and vital role they play in our nation’s healthcare system.

On May 4th, Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), the first registered nurse elected to Congress, introduced House Resolution 315. This resolution states that the U.S. House of Representatives supports the goals and ideals of National Nurses Week as founded by the American Nurses Association. It notes that as nurse staffing levels increase, the risk of patient complications and length of hospital stays decrease, resulting in cost savings. Further, it acknowledges that nurses consistently deliver high-quality care with positive patient outcomes when they are allowed to work to the full extent of their education and training.

Rep. Johnson called her resolution a small token of gratitude and recognition for all the hard work nurses perform. “As a non-practicing registered nurse and member of the Congressional Nursing Caucus, I am acutely aware of how valuable nurses are to the medical system, patients, and our society,” said Johnson. “Whether in hospitals, nursing homes, community clinics, or any other setting, nurses are integral to patient care. Nurses are our greatest resource in eliminating health disparities and alleviating chronic disease as they exemplify and lead prevention and public health efforts.”

The Co-Chairs of the Senate Nursing Caucus, Sens. Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR), introduced an identical resolution officially honoring May 6-12 as National Nurses Week. Their resolution recognizes nurses as strong allies to Congress, experienced researchers, and the cornerstone of the public health infrastructure.

On May 11th, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced S. 1109, the Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act. Led by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Richard Burr (R-NC), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), and Susan Collins (R-ME), this legislation would reauthorize, update and improve programs that help to grow and support the nursing workforce in the United States.

“As the husband of a nurse, I hear firsthand about the challenges and successes that come with working on the frontlines of our health care system,” said Merkley. “Every day, nurses take on difficult, essential, and often thankless tasks that keep our health care system running and that have a huge impact on the patient experience. Each of us has a story about the nurse who made all the difference at a frightening or difficult time for our families. I’ll keep fighting to improve federal policy to fully recognize and support the essential role of nurses in our health care system, and I invite all Oregonians to join me in recognizing the tremendous work of our Oregon nurses this National Nurses Week.”

Additionally, ANA co-sponsored two Hill briefings with the Nursing Community in collaboration with the House and Senate Nursing Caucuses. The series was entitled “Transforming Health and Health Care: Nursing Workforce and Research.” The first briefing featured nursing experts who made a clear case to Congress for funding nursing education by highlighting ways the nursing profession is meeting healthcare needs of the nation. The second briefing focused on the contributions of nursing science as it relates to care across the continuum, including data science and precision health. The speakers discussed nurses’ leading role in research innovations and how nurse science has helped improve patient outcomes.

As we bring Nurses Week to a close, The Hill published an op-ed by President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN, urging Congress to cut through the red tape to help Medicare beneficiaries get the care they need by passing S.444/HR 1825, the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act. This legislation would authorize nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives as eligible healthcare professionals who can certify patient eligibility for home health care services under Medicare.

Happy Nurses Week and thank you for the meaningful work you do every single day!!

 

 

Broad-Based Opposition to the American Health Care Act

  

Last week, Michele Woodward, a prominent Republican and former White House staffer in the Reagan Administration, posted a powerful critique of the Republican health care reform bill known as the American Health Care Act. Ms. Woodward noted of the legislation that:

You see, the health care bill passed in the House today has nothing to do with making sure all Americans have access to healthcare. The GOP leadership didn’t go in saying, “How can we raise the standard of living for all Americans by insuring their health?” No, they did not. Instead, they said, “How much money can we take out of this program?” Why? Because taking money from Obamacare allows the tax cuts the GOP really wants. Tax cuts that mostly benefit the wealthy and large corporations. Tax cuts that will continue to ensure that we don’t spend enough on critical infrastructure. They are single-minded in their pursuit of starving the government of funds and, thereby, fundamentally changing the American way of life for the worse.

The American Nurses Association takes similar issue with this piece of legislation. First and foremost, the American Health Care Act would deny millions of Americans access to critical health care services. Although the Republicans in the House decided to blindly vote on this bill without knowing its financial or human impact, it is not substantially different from the previous version of the bill which would have resulted in a loss of health care coverage for 24 million Americans and an $880 billion reduction in Medicaid funding. This version, in fact, would also put at risk the ability of the roughly 15 million Americans with pre-existing conditions to purchase and access critical health care services. The process by which the legislation moved through the House was also striking for its lack of transparency and the absence of meaningful debate, stakeholder input, or bipartisan collaboration. The House, in short, was reckless in its determination to pass this flawed legislation.

Further, this legislation marginalizes vulnerable populations by eroding their ability to access health care services for the benefit of the wealthiest Americans, who would receive a large tax cut. Such a shift goes against ANA’s core principles of health care reform and, as Ms. Woodward pointed out, would fundamentally change the American way of life for the worse. The American Nurses Association stands in opposition to this bill and urges the Senate to take a far more judicious and bipartisan approach to health care reform which ensures that all Americans – rich and poor, young and old, sick and healthy alike – have access to comprehensive health care services.

Congress just proved why we need you in Washington

  

Following yesterday’s AHCA vote, ANA board member Jesse Kennedy joins us as a guest blogger to explain why it’s more important than ever to take part in this year’s Hill Day. Please click here to learn more and share with others who might be interested.

Shameful. By a thin margin, the House of Representatives just voted today to pass the American Health Care Act.

Despite an avalanche of warnings, the House just moved to undo years of hard work by nurses like you to provide a better health care system for our patients.

No matter how leaders try to spin today’s vote, its effects are clear, and dangerous: Ending protections for those with pre-existing conditions. Eliminating essential health benefits. Kicking 24 million people off of their coverage.

The nursing community will not allow out-of-touch politicians to threaten the lives of our patients. ANA advocates are heading to Capitol Hill on Thursday, June 8 – one month from now – to meet face-to-face with members of Congress and their staffers – can you join us?

Register for ANA’s Hill Day in D.C. on June 8 so we can make sure to save you a spot.

Not sure if you can join? Click here and we’ll send you a reminder before the final deadline.

I don’t know who exactly was in the room when leaders in the House of Representatives decided to ram their devastating repeal bill forward, but I can tell you who wasn’t in the room: Health care professionals like you and me.

I know this because no one who has direct experience with health care in America would ever support the repeal bill that the House just passed. It would put our patients in danger and interfere with our ability to deliver quality care.

Fortunately, we have an opportunity to make our voices heard in the halls of Congress – and use our power and our passion to stop disastrous measures like this from ever becoming the law of the land.

I hope you’ll be able to join me on June 8 to raise your voice. Register now for ANA Hill Day 2017.

This fight does not end here. Thank you for continuing to speak out and advocate for all of our patients.