Legislation – 110th Congress

New! Support the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008

H.R. 5613 would place a moratorium on seven Medicaid regulations issued by the Department of Health and Human Services.  Taken together, these regulations would jeopardize Medicaid access and services by reducing federal Medicaid funding to the states by nearly $20 billion over the next five years.  The Senate is planning to vote on the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 (H.R. 5613) the week of April 28th. 

New! Include Nurse Practitioners in the Definition of Medical Homes
In the Medicare Improvement and Extension Act of 2006, Congress created the Medicare Medical Home Demonstration Project.  Unfortunately, the 2006 Act’s definition of a “medical home” for primary care was limited strictly to a “board certified physician,” thus excluding nurse practitioners -- and other health care providers who currently provide primary care.  While the Medicare demonstration project is somewhat narrow in its scope, we are very concerned that its definition of medical home could become the rule for all of Medicare, and then all of health care.

Senate Dear Colleague Letter on Nursing Workforce Funding
The nursing workforce development programs administered by the HRSA through Title VIII provide federal support for nurse workforce development. This Dear Colleague solicitation asks other Members of the Senate to sign-on to a statement supporting $200 million in fiscal year (FY) 2009 funding for the Nursing Workforce Development programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration.  

Congressional Nursing Caucus Dear Colleague Letter – HOUSE
The nursing workforce development programs administered by the HRSA through Title VIII provide federal support for nurse workforce development. This Dear Colleague solicitation asks other Members of the House of Representatives to sign-on to a statement supporting $200 million in fiscal year (FY) 2009 funding for the Nursing Workforce Development programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration.  

Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act – House and Senate Bills
ANA supports H.R. 4138 and S. 73, the Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act, which would hold hospitals accountable for the development of valid, reliable unit-by-unit nurse staffing plans.  These plans would be developed in coordination with direct care registered nurses (RNs) and based on each unit’s unique characteristics and needs.  The bill also provides for public reporting of staffing information, and includes whistle-blower protections for RNs and others who may file a complaint regarding staffing.
H.R. 4138
S. 73
New! ANA has launched a web site dedicated to the issue of safe staffing. This site educates nurses about ANA's history of advocacy on the issue, provides updates on the newest information and developments, and gives nurses tools to get involved. Join ANA's Safe Staffing Campaign!

  

Medicaid Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants Access Act of 2007 – House and Senate Bills

ANA supports H.R. 2066 and S. 59 which would expand patient access to quality health care by requiring states to offer Medicaid coverage for primary health-care services provided by advanced practice registered nurses (APRNS), and would eliminate the option that state Medicaid plans currently have of denying APRNs as primary care case managers.

H.R. 2066

S. 59

 

The Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act of 2007 – House and Senate Bills

ANA supports H.R. 2122 and S. 1842 which would amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for patient protection by limiting the number of mandatory overtime hours a nurse may be required to work in certain providers of services to which payments are made under the Medicare Program.

H.R. 2122

S. 1842

  

The Re-Empowerment of Skilled and Professional Employees and Construction Tradeworkers (RESPECT) Act – House and Senate Bills
ANA supports H.R. 1644 and S. 969 to protect nurses and other workers impacted by the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) decisions last fall in cases collectively known as Kentucky River.  This legislation would ensure that skilled and experienced workers in a wide range of industries who sometimes instruct co-workers do not lose their collective bargaining rights.

H.R. 1644
S. 969

  

Congressional Nursing Caucus

Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) and Congressman Steve LaTourette (R-OH) have come together to form the House Nurse Caucus.  The Caucus will provide an excellent, non-partisan forum for the discussion of issues that impact the nursing profession, and will help members of Congress who care these issues come together to address them in the 110th Congress.

 

The Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2007 (H.R. 2260)

On May 10, 2007, Reps. John Sullivan (R-OK) and Jim McDermott (D-WA) introduced the Healthcare Truth and Transparency Act of 2007 (H.R. 2260). This legislation is a product of the American Medical Association's ongoing effort to limit scopes of practice of health care providers who are not physicians.  ANA asserts that this imposition of federal trade law on health care practice is unprecedented and unnecessary.

 

Nursing School Capacity Act of 2007 (H.R. 677)

Congressman Rush Holt (D-NJ) reintroduced the Nursing School Capacity Act of 2007 (H.R. 677).  This legislation would provide for a study by the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences to identify constraints encountered by schools of nursing in admitting and graduating the number of nurses sufficient to meet the health care needs of the United States, and for other purposes.  

 

 

 

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Legislation – 108th and 109th Congress