On June 16, just in time for ANA’s Lobby Day, ANA-supported Safe Staffing legislation was introduced in the House and Senate. The Senate sponsor, Sen. Daniel Inouye, and House sponsors, Reps Lois Capps (D-CA), Steven LaTourette (R-OH) and Ginny Brown-Waite (R-FL) introduced the Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act (H.R. 5527/ S. 3491), 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. ANA needs your help to educate members of congress and build support for this important legislation.

Read more...

The American Nurses Association was proud to welcome President Barack Obama as a guest speaker to its biennial House of Delegates. He spoke to an estimated crowd of more than 1,000 nurses and guests during the opening session.

Read more...

On June 16th, in conjunction with the ANA House of Delegates, approximately 300 nurses from across the country came to Capitol Hill to take part in the ANA 2010 Lobby Day. This year we also added a virtual component, allowing 1200 nurses from all over to follow the action “virtually” on Facebook and Twitter. On our “Virtual” Lobby Day homepage participants were able to research issues and write letters to their Members of Congress leading to over 400 letters sent!

Read more...

Health and Human Services (HHS) announced on July 1st the establishment of a new Pre-existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) that will offer coverage to the uninsured who have been unable to obtain health coverage because of a pre-existing health condition for at least six months. The program was created in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as a transitional program to operate until 2014 when the state operated exchanges become active.

Read more...

As you may be aware, in June 2010 the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced that $500 million in grants would be made available for primary and preventive care – including funds specifically supporting nurses. These funds come from the Prevention and Public Health fund for fiscal year 2010, created by the new healthcare reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. More recently, HHS announced an additional $96 million in grants to improve the diversity of the healthcare workforce, and encourage nurses to pursue careers in education.

Read more...

On July 7, President Obama appointed Dr. Donald Berwick the new administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The president made this “recess” appointment while Congress is out of session, as Republican members threatened to derail the nomination and turn the confirmation hearings into a debate on healthcare reform.

Read more...