ACTION ALERTS

ACNP needs your help now to write or call your Representative and ask him/her to cosponsor H.R. 3185!

On July 13, 2009, Representative Lois Capps introduced HR. 3185 , a bill that will expand advanced practice nurse training programs and help ensure access to quality patient care.  This bill amends Title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide payment to hospitals for costs of expanded advanced practice nurse training programs.  Text of the legislation is available at http://thomas.loc.gov.   

A version of this proposal is included in a Senate Health reform bill so we are working to gather cosponsors in the House. This is important as healthcare reform moves forward because it will be essential to have support for this proposal in both Chambers of Congress.

This bill will allocate new funding under Medicare to expand the Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) workforce in order to ensure there are enough health care providers to care for an aging and increasingly diverse population. With health reform plans that intend to expand insurance coverage to more people, it’s important that proposals move forward to ensure there is a strong workforce to provide access to care.

ACNP has joined forces with other NP organizations to demonstrate this is a priority for nursing and to stress the important role APRNs play in the delivery of quality healthcare. Nurses from across the country will be contacting their member of the House of Representatives on October 1st and 2nd requesting they support H.R. 3185. Please write or call your Representative during this timeframe to make your voice heard!

A sample letter to your Member of Congress may be downloaded here.  You can find your Members of Congress by entering your zip code in the field at the top of the page.
 

Stay tuned for updates and suggestions about how you can support this legislation.