The American Nurses Association (ANA) acknowledged the 45th anniversary of the enactment of Medicare on July 1 and reaffirmed its commitment to the program, which provides insurance coverage for 47 million vulnerable elderly and disabled individuals. ANA was the first health care organization to support the creation of Medicare and firmly opposes large scale cuts to the program.
The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs, which are administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), are the primary source of federal funding for nursing education and workforce development. These programs bolster nursing education at all levels, from entry-level preparation through the development of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). They also prepare faculty to teach the nation’s future nursing workforce.
The American Nurses Association Political Action Committee (ANA-PAC), elected new officers at its July meeting in Silver Spring, MD. The ANA-PAC works to raise funds from ANA members and supports candidates for federal office who have demonstrated their belief in ANA’s legislative agenda. ANA-PAC Officers are elected to serve a one-year term. The new board will establish the presidential endorsement task force and has set a goal of raising one million dollars for the 2011-12 election cycle.
On June 21, 2011, Representatives Greg Walden (R-OR) and Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) reintroduced the “Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2011” (H.R. 2267). This bipartisan legislation would allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) – nurse practitioners (NPs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), physician assistants (PAs) – to order home health services and meet the face-to-face requirement under Medicare in accordance with state law.
The American Nurses Association (ANA) joined a group of health care professionals to testify before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee in support of “The Clean Air Act.” Delaware Nurses Association (DNA) member Sarah Bucic, MSN, RN, was among the panelists invited to provide remarks.
It’s that time again…the time that only comes around once a decade. It’s time for redistricting! Redistricting is the process of drawing electoral district boundaries in response to the results of the decennial census. Changes are made to districts based on population changes. In the majority of states, the state legislature has the responsibility for drawing new districts throughout the state. Usually once the state legislature passes a plan, it must be approved by the governor of the state. By allowing the state legislatures to draw up these plans, many states have districts that reflect favorably on the party in control of the state at that time.
