Capitol Update, brought to you by the American Nurses Association
Capitol Update, a legislative newsletter for nurses
Volume 2 | Issue 3 April 2, 2004
Article Photo ANA Opposes Health Care Budget Cuts
The House of Representatives passed their FY 2005 Budget Resolution on March 24, 2004. The resolution was the subject of bitter debate over funding priorities, including health care, tax cuts, and defense spending. Every Democratic Member of the House and 10 Republicans voted against the resolution, which passed on a vote of 215-212, the same margin as last year's budget resolution. President Barbara Blakeney took part in a news conference on March 17 to express ANA's strong concerns about cuts to the health care safety net contained in the House Budget Resolution.
Senate Considering Association Health Plans
Last year, the House of Representatives passed the Small Business Health Care Fairness Act (H.R. 660, S. 545). During his State of the Union speech this January, President Bush urged the Senate to join the House in supporting this bill. The Small Business Health Care Fairness Act would exempt health insurance coverage sold through Association Health Plans (AHPs) from state law and oversight. ANA opposes the Small Business Health Care Fairness Act because, rather than helping the small business community, AHPs could actually hurt small employers and their workers while taking away key health protections that millions of Americans have today.
ANA Supports Bills Addressing Sickle Cell Disease and Gynecological Cancers
On March 22, 2004 ANA sent letters to the House and Senate supporting bills to address sickle cell disease and gynecological cancers. The Sickle Cell Treatment Act of 2003 will help promote access to a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary program of care for sickle cell patients, and The Gynecological Cancer Education and Awareness Act of 2003, also known as Joanna's Law, would authorize demonstration grants to test outreach and education campaigns to raise awareness about gynecologic cancers and promote early detection of this deadly disease.

ANA Opposes Requests for Delay of Immigration Rule
In a recent letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge, ANA went on record opposing recent requests to delay final implementation of Section 343 of the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (P. L. 104-208) and opposing requests to substantially broaden the categories of health care workers who should be exempted from its certification requirements.

Montana Nurses Association leads the fight against physician delegation to UAPs
The Montana Nurses Association led the fight against proposed administrative rules allowing broad physician delegation for medical assistants or unlicensed assistive personnel. At a hearing on the issue, the Montana Nurses Association provided testimony strongly opposing the proposed rule and calling attention to the rule's lack of appropriate guidelines for patient safety.
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Political Update: U.S. House Race Overview
Candidate filing deadlines for the races in just under half of the states have passed, seven states have already held their statewide primary elections, and House races across the country are beginning to heat up. The general election is just eight months away, and the contenders and the overall dynamics of Congressional races are coming into focus.

Keeping Track: Overtime Regulations Update
The fight over proposed changes as to who is eligible for overtime pay has once again found its way to the Senate floor. On March 24, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) once again offered an amendment to block proposed regulations to change employees' eligibility for overtime pay.
CMS NP/CNS/PA Billing Guide
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently released a billing guide for Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners and Clinical Nurse Specialists.
ANA Opposes EPA Rules on Toxic Mercury Emissions
ANA President Barbara Blakeney, MS, APRN,BC, ANP joined with leaders of a broad coalition of public health, labor, education and faith-based organizations in opposing a proposed Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule that would relax current standards on toxic mercury emissions. The coalition, spearheaded by Physicians for Social Responsibility, announced its opposition at a press conference on March 16 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
Medicare Drug Discount Card Sponsors Selected
On March 25, Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson announced the approval of 28 private sponsors to provide seniors and people with disabilities savings on their prescription drugs, beginning June 1. With the new cards, Medicare beneficiaries will receive discounts on prescription drugs, and low-income beneficiaries may receive an additional $600 to pay for their prescription medicines in both 2004 and 2005.
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