Nurse Practitioners Announce 2015 Legislative Priorities For National NP Week
AANP Reaffirms Commitment to VA Health Reform in Honor of Veterans Day
AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) – the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners or NPs in the country – marks National NP Week (November 9-15) with the announcement of AANP's 2015 policy priorities. Chief among them is the goal of increasing the role of nurse practitioners at VA facilities, a commitment AANP reaffirms in advance of Veterans Day, taking place November 11.
National NP Week is held annually to highlight the contributions of nurse practitioners across the health care system. It also serves to emphasize the critical importance of providing patients nationwide with full and direct access to nurse practitioner care.
"More and more policy makers are championing efforts to ease needless restrictions on nurse practitioner practice in recognition of their invaluable role in protecting the health of patients and communities, particularly those that have been historically underserved," said AANP president Ken Miller, PhD, RN, CFNP, FAAN, FAANP. "With countless Americans struggling to access high-quality, timely health services – a problem that tragically extends to our nation's veterans seeking care through the VA system – it is critical that these efforts continue building momentum at the federal and state levels, and within the health care industry."
AANP's complete list of legislative priorities for 2015 is available online, designated by federal and state policies. They include:
AANP 2015 federal legislative priorities:
- Increase the role of NPs at VA facilities
- Pass the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act
- Authorize NPs to Document Evaluations for Durable Medical Equipment
- Pass the Ensuring Access to Primary Care for Women and Children Act
- Authorize NPs to Certify Medicare Patients for Hospice Care
- Authorize NPs to Perform Admitting Examinations and Monthly Patient Assessments in Skilled Nursing Facilities
- Provide Opportunity for NPs to be Full Participants in the Insurance Exchange (Marketplace) Program
- Enable NPs Patients to be Beneficiaries in Medicare Shared Savings Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)
- Provide Stable, Sufficient Funding for Nurse Education Programs
- Amend Medicare Conditions of Participation to Require Hospitals to Consider NPs for Appointment to Medical Staffs
AANP 2015 state legislative priorities:
- Modernize State Licensure Laws
- Streamline Care Delivery with NP Signature
- Create Flexible and Sustainable Reimbursement and Care Delivery Methods
AANP has and will continue advocating for these federal and state policy changes throughout the remainder of 2014 and into the New Year.
The American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is the largest professional membership organization for nurse practitioners (NPs) of all specialties. It represents the interests of over 192,000 NPs, including more than 50,000 individual members and 203 organizations, providing a unified networking platform and advocating for their role as providers of high-quality, cost-effective, comprehensive, patient-centered and personalized health care. The organization provides legislative leadership at the local, state and national levels, advancing health policy; promoting excellence in practice, education and research; and establishing standards that best serve NP patients and other health care consumers.
For more information visit aanp.org. To locate a nurse practitioner in your area visit npfinder.com.
SOURCE American Association of Nurse Practitioners
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