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	<title>Capitol Update</title>
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	<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org</link>
	<description>ANA Government Affairs&#039; free, online legislative and political newsletter on issues that impact nurses.</description>
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		<title>ANA President, Karen Daley, Testifies Before House Appropriations Subcommittee</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/ana-president-karen-daley-testifies-before-house-appropriations-subcommittee/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/ana-president-karen-daley-testifies-before-house-appropriations-subcommittee/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2012 18:25:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[April 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health and Human Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House Appropriations Committee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2783</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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. ]]></description>
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		<title>Time to Celebrate – Happy National Nurses Week, May 6 – 12, 2012</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/time-to-celebrate-happy-national-nurses-week-may-6-12-2012/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/time-to-celebrate-happy-national-nurses-week-may-6-12-2012/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 May 2012 18:20:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured Articles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[April 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HRSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mary Wakefield]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[National Nurses Week]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Secretary Sebelius]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2861</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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.
]]></description>
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		<title>The Affordable Care Act: Year Two in Focus</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/the-affordable-care-act-year-two-in-focus/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/the-affordable-care-act-year-two-in-focus/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 18:20:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legislative Updates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[April 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[health care reform]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supreme Court of the United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2796</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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.  ]]></description>
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		<title>The Sequester Looms Over Washington</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/the-sequester-looms-over-washington/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/the-sequester-looms-over-washington/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 18:10:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Legislative Updates]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[April 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[House Budget Committee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[The Budget Control Act of 2011]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2798</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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.” ]]></description>
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		<title>ANAI Fellow Representing NOVA at Joining Forces Anniversary Event at the University of Pennsylvania</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/anai-fellow-representing-nova-at-joining-forces-anniversary-event-at-the-university-of-pennsylvania/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/anai-fellow-representing-nova-at-joining-forces-anniversary-event-at-the-university-of-pennsylvania/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 18:00:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[End Notes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[April 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Veterans Affairs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[First Lady Michelle Obama]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Office of Nursing Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[University of Pennsylvania]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2779</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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.  ]]></description>
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		<title>States Can Be Flexible in Creating &#8220;Affordable Insurance Exchanges&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/states-can-be-flexible-in-creating-affordable-insurance-exchanges/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/states-can-be-flexible-in-creating-affordable-insurance-exchanges/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 17:50:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[In the States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affordable Health Care for America Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affordable Insurance Exchanges]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[April 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[CHIP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Health & Human Services]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2819</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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).]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>ANA Lobby Day 2012 is Almost Here!</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/ana-lobby-day-2012-is-almost-here/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/ana-lobby-day-2012-is-almost-here/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 17:45:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Political News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[April 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Congressional Management Foundation (CMF)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Lobby Day 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nurses Campaign Activity Night]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2814</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With Congress in what seems like perpetual gridlock and with the 2012 elections only six months away, many frustrated constituents have given up on the Congress all together. We at ANA believe this is a mistake. In fact, now is the time for nurses just like you to join forces and amplify your voice on the pressing issues facing you and your patients. ]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>George Mason University Practicum Experience at American Nurses Association</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/george-mason-university-practicum-experience-at-american-nurses-association/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/george-mason-university-practicum-experience-at-american-nurses-association/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 17:30:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[End Notes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[April 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[George Mason University]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2771</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Completing a practicum is required for advanced nursing education. A practicum involves taking the skills and knowledge learned in the classroom and applying it to real work situations with the guidance of a preceptor. Preceptors are required to have a masters or doctorate degree in nursing.  There are 3.1 million nurses in the United States and twelve percent of these nurses hold a masters degree and approximately one percent a doctorate degree.  The paucity of nurses with requisite advanced degrees narrows the opportunity for graduate level students to find practicum sites to experience didactic education at work.
]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Meet Cece Henry Intern at ANA</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/meet-cece-henry-intern-at-ana/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/meet-cece-henry-intern-at-ana/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 May 2012 17:00:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[End Notes]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affordable Health Care for America Act]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[April 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Department of Health and Human Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Secretary Kathleen Sebelius]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2761</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[My name is Cece Henry, and I’m an intern this spring with the ANA Government Affairs Department (GOVA).  After 20 years of primarily ICU/CCU nursing, I decided to return to school for my master’s degree. I wanted to do something that took me out of the traditional hospital setting, and learned about this internship after taking a class last semester with Abby Ehret, a former GOVA intern. After hearing about her memorable experiences, I knew I had to be here!]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/05/meet-cece-henry-intern-at-ana/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The &#8216;Doc-Fix&#8217;, &#8216;Doc Patch&#8217;, &#8216;SGR&#8217;&#8230;</title>
		<link>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/03/the-doc-fix-doc-patch-sgr/</link>
		<comments>http://www.capitolupdate.org/index.php/2012/03/the-doc-fix-doc-patch-sgr/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 21 Mar 2012 19:20:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Doretta.Hood@ana.org</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Archived]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conference Committee]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feb/March 2012]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[SGR (Sustainable Growth Rate)]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.capitolupdate.org/?p=2690</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) passed Congress in 1997 is a formula used to reduce Medicare spending on providers and keeps Medicare spending in check. It has become a political can that congressional members just kick down the road.  Since the law was enacted in 1997, Congress has passed short term fixes that keep the SGR from going into full effect rather than taking its medicine and make some tough decisions to fix the problem once and for all. The SGR, if let to go into effect, would cut Medicare provider payments by 29 percent. ]]></description>
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