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.

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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.

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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.

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At the request of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), the Institute of Medicine (IOM) reviewed the relationship between statutes and regulations and the prevention of injury and disease, saving lives, and improvement of health overall. The result is the release of a report, part of a three-part series, to address major topics in public health. Collectively, the series is intended to offer policy makers guidance on becoming a healthier nation. At a time when states are struggling to balance budgets, this report cautions that cuts made in 2010 already make it difficult for many states to deal with fundamental public health issues.

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Nurses may be interested to know about recent final rules which may directly impact the practice of nursing, patient care and access, and health care policy at the federal level. Executive agencies and departments are required to publish notices of all rules and decisions in the Federal Register, and accept public comments on proposed rules. Final rules are not open for comment, and become part of U.S. law in the Code of Federal Regulations.

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As a lobbyist working in Washington, DC representing nurses, I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet Members of Congress at various events scheduled throughout the year, especially during peak fundraising times. You may be well aware, that Members of Congress, on the House side, must run for office every two years. As you can well imagine, they’re on a continuous quest to raise money to fund their campaigns

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