Capitol Update, brought to you by the American Nurses Association
Capitol Update, a legislative newsletter for nurses
Volume 2 | Issue 1 January 23,2004
Article Photo White House Beats Back Congress' Attempt to Protect Overtime Pay
On January 20, Patricia J. Hefner, RN, C, and Pennsylvania State Nurses Association (PSNA) member testified before the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor Health and Human Services on the Administration's proposed new regulations that would deny overtime pay for millions of American workers, including nurses. Hefner was the only voice at the hearing representing nurses, and the only person testifying as a worker who could be impacted by the proposed regulations (news release).

Despite outcry from across the country and a bipartisan effort, including these hearings, to block the regulations and broker further negotiations or compromise, the Senate gave final approval (65-28) on January 21 to an omnibus appropriations bill (HR 2673) that failed to include a provision to protect nurses and other workers from the proposed new DOL regulations.
Administration Begins Implementation of Major Medicare Law
On December 8, 2003, President Bush signed into law the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA, P.L. 108- 173). The MMA contains the largest wholesale changes to the Medicare program since its inception in 1960. Following is a brief summary of the prescription drug benefit, and of other provisions that impact nursing practice.
ANA Develops Appropriations Request for FY 2005; 2004 Funding Finalized
On January 12, 2004 ANA, working in conjunction with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the American Organization of Nurse Executives, and the National League for Nursing, determined that nursing will request $205 million in fiscal year (FY) 2005 appropriations for the nursing workforce development programs of Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act.
Update on the Congressional Nursing Caucus
Since the House of Representatives Nursing Caucus was established in March 2003 by Reps. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and Lois Capps, RN (D-CA), its membership has grown to over 80 Members of Congress.
Congresswoman Capps introduces ANA-Supported Staffing Bill
In May 2003, Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) worked with ANA to develop and introduce S 991, legislation to ensure adequate registered nurse (RN) staffing in health care facilities in response to the current nursing crisis. Late last year, Congresswoman Lois Capps (D-CA) introduced a companion bill to S. 991 in the U.S. House.

CMS Challenged to Implement Medicare Reform Legislation
Over the next few years, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will face the daunting task of implementing more than 300 provisions in the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) Pub. L No. 108-173 signed into law by President Bush on Dec. 8, 2003.

State News, Review and Preview
2004 Promises to be an active year in state legislatures across the country. A look at where issues were left in 2003 and what to expcect in the New Year.
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PRESIDENTIAL RACE UPDATE:Democratic List Shortens, ANA Members Prepare for February Virtual Vote
The ANA Presidential endorsement process requires participation of the ANA membership, and your opportunity to weigh in is just around the corner. ANA members are asked to vote for their preferred candidate in ANA's online "Virtual Voting Booth" February 2-6, 2004. Get more information on the candidates at ANA's Election 2004 Action Center and visit http://www.anamembervote.org/ to vote for your candidate Feb 2-6.
ANA Challenges Nurses Nationwide to Engage in 2004 Election Year Activities
At a time when the nation prepares to elect U.S. Representatives, Senators and the President, Constituent Member Associations across the nation are working with the American Nurses Association to lay out an aggressive campaign to educate, motivate and mobilize the nursing profession into an unstoppable political force.

CMS Announces The Standard Unique Health Identifier For Health Care Providers For Use In Standard Transactions Under HIPAA
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have published a final rule for the adoption of the National Provider Identifier (NPI) as the standard unique health identifier for health care providers to use in filing and processing health care claims and other transactions.
GAO Study on Medicare Payment for Assistants-at-Surgery
Medicare pays for assistant-at-surgery services under both the hospital inpatient prospective payment system and the physician fee schedule. Payments under the physician fee schedule are limited to a few health professions. In 2001, Congress directed GAO to report on the potential impact on the Medicare program of allowing physician fee schedule payments to Certified Registered Nurse First Assistants for assistant-at-surgery services.
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