San Antonio, Texas hosted the 2011 National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) annual Legislative Summit. Hot weather and hot topics were plentiful: energy, transportation, budgets, and of course health reform, to name a few. ANA uses this summit as an opportunity to educate policy makers and other attendees about the profession and related issues as well as connect with national and international experts. This year, ANA presented opportunities for state legislators to pursue recommendations from the 2010 Institute of Medicine (IOM) Future of Nursing report, particularly relevant with health reform initiatives.

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With Congress mired indefinitely in political conflict over possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act, federal departments and agencies – as well as the states – are proceeding to carry out ACA’s blueprint for health reform according to schedule, as required by law. New regulatory rules, appointments, and programs are announced every day. Many of these will significantly impact patient care and access to health benefits – and thus nursing care and policy.

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On May 12, 2011, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee passed by a vote of 14 to 9 the State Flexibility Act of 2011 (H.R. 1683). The bill, sponsored by Representatives Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R-GA) and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), repeals the Medicaid Maintenance of Effort (MOE) requirements that were first included in the stimulus bill (ARRA) and also within the Affordable Care Act (ACA). H.R. 1683 repeals the stability provisions in Medicaid and CHIP – putting at risk our nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

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Here is a wrap-up of recent actions affecting Medicare & Medicaid patients and providers by CMS, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. CMS has many excellent resources – including facts sheets, rules and regulations, and schedules for upcoming calls and public meetings — available on their website, www.cms.gov. CMS is taking a leading role in developing policies to implement the Affordable Care Act, in addition to its continuing responsibilities for administering Medicare programs for seniors and the disabled, as well as the federal portion of state Medicaid programs.

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ANA submitted testimony to the House Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies on Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 appropriations for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and Nurse-Managed Health Clinics.

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Wednesday, March 23rd marked the first birthday of Health Care Reform — the day the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law by President Obama. The one year anniversary of the signing of this historic legislation provided a great opportunity for the ANA, our members, and nurses across the country to let our elected leaders know just what these life-saving provisions mean to us and, most importantly, to our patients.

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