On Thursday, March 29th, ANA President, Karen Daley, testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies. President Daley’s testimony focused on Title VIII programs, and funding nurse managed health centers.
Dear ANA Member,
As a nurse, you strive for excellence in all you do. You provide patients and their families with skilled, compassionate care, and help them navigate a complex and oftentimes overwhelming health care system. Regardless of your role or title, you educate, counsel, advocate, and lead. Your work makes a difference to countless patients, families, and communities who benefit from your dedication and professionalism. Amid the fast pace of your life, you may not take time to reflect on all the good you do. This week is the time to acknowledge and celebrate the difference you make.
It’s difficult to believe that two years have passed since President Obama signed the “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act” (ACA) into law. Friday, March 23, 2012 marked the two year anniversary of this historic legislation and ANA took part in a week-long celebration recognizing all of the patient protections now in place because of the law — from the closing of the donut hole to preventing insurers from denying coverage due to pre-existing conditions and allowing children up to the age of 26 to stay on their parent’s health insurance to providing real, affordable health coverage to millions of Americans. ANA used social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter to share information on these important achievements in our health care delivery system.
On Wednesday, April 25th, the House Budget Committee held a hearing titled, “Replacing the Sequester” to understand its impact and logistics for its implementation. As Chairman Ryan noted before the adjournment of the hearing, “the implications of the sequester are now clear as mud.”
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden marked the first anniversary of the Joining Forces campaign with several events during April 11 and 12 at the White House, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Shreveport, Louisiana, and Jacksonville, Florida. After a kick-off at the White House on April 11th, the first and second ladies travelled to Philadelphia to the University of Pennsylvania – Irvine Auditorium, where a group of nurse leaders, nursing students, military service members and others waited patiently. I was tremendously honored to be amongst those waiting.
New federal regulations from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) give States considerable flexibility in creating “Affordable Insurance Exchanges,” an important part of health care reform. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires each State to have in place, by 2014, a health insurance exchange market where consumers and small businesses can compare and enroll in health plans, get answers to questions, and see if they are eligible for tax credits or subsidized programs like the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
