Graduate Nursing Education (GNE) Provision Included in Chairman’s Mark
On September 22, the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Max Baucus (D-MT), issued a “modified” Chairman’s Mark that sought to address some of the high-level concerns raised by Democrats – larger subsidies to make coverage affordable for poor and middle class Americans, modifications to allay the concerns of seniors fearful of losing their Medicare Advantage and high risk workers such as firefighters and construction workers who are fearful their coverage would be taxed as “cadillac” because their work is high-risk.
Also included in this modified Mark was a provision offered by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), amendment D-4, that would appropriate $50 million per year for FY2012 through FY2015 to establish a graduate nurse education demonstration program in Medicare. Eligible hospitals would receive Medicare reimbursement for the educational costs, clinical instruction costs, and other direct and indirect costs of an eligible hospital’s expenses attributable to the training of advanced practice nurses with the skills necessary to provide primary and preventive care, transitional care, chronic care management, and other nursing services appropriate for the Medicare-eligible population. For this provision, the term “advanced practice nurse” shall include a clinical nurse specialist, nurse practitioner, certified registered nurse anesthetist, and certified nurse midwife.
Thanks to all who contacted Finance Committee members in response to ANA’s email alert—your actions helped ensure that the Chairman included the provision in the updated version of the bill, making a committee vote unnecessary!
Rachel Conant
Tags: Finance Committee, Graduate Nursing Education, October 2009
