Capitol Update, brought to you by the American Nurses Association
Capitol Update, a legislative newsletter for nurses
Volume 4/Issue 9 October 31, 2006
Article Photo HHS Updates Pandemic Flu Plan: Responds to Nurse's Concerns

ANA worked with the Congressional Nursing Caucus to raise concerns about the respiratory protections included in the national pandemic flu plan released in November, 2005. ANA and the Nursing Caucus criticized this plan for recommending that health care workers wear surgical masks, instead of respirators, for personal protection when treating patients with pandemic flu. The revised plan, released on October 17, 2006 clarifies that respirators are preferable.
ANA Endorses the Nursing Education and Quality Health Care Act

ANA worked with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the office of Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) to craft the Nursing Education and Quality Health Care Act of 2006. Senator Clinton introduced this bill (S. 4029) on September 29, 2006. ANA endorsed this legislation because it would support and encourage innovation in nursing education.
Older American's Act Reauthorized: Includes ANA - Endorsed Positive Aging Act

On October 17, 2006 President Bush signed into law the Older American's Act of 2006 (P.L. 109-365). In addition to reauthorizing existing programs, this law includes most of the innovative programs contained in the Positive Aging Act. ANA originally endorsed the Positive Aging Act in 2004 because it would help address the glaring need for mental health services in the geriatric community.

CMS Fire Safety Rule Requires Sprinklers for LTC Facilities

On October 26, 2006 the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services published a proposed rule which would require all long term care (LTC) facilities to install automatic sprinkler systems as part of their fire safety systems. Comments on the proposed rule are due by December 26, 2006. CMS indicated that the agency is especially interested in comments on the length of the phase-in period allowed for facilities without sprinkler systems to install them.

ANA Hosts Forum on Staffing Issues

On October 16, nurses from Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana gathered in Cincinnati for a successful ANA-hosted forum on nurse staffing. The meeting, which was part of ANA's "Coming to You" series, began with an overview of ANA's history and continued work on behalf of nursing by ANA President Rebecca M. Patton, MSN, RN, CNOR. Patton's presentation focused on ANA's rich history of advocacy, and how current ANA efforts, from development of the Nurses Code of Ethics to its presence on Capitol Hill, continues to impact nurses today.
copyright 2006, American Nurses Association
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Nurses' Voices CAN Make the Difference in the Mid-Term Elections! Vote November 7!

Do you have your strategy in place to vote next Tuesday, November 7? The polls will open early, but are you planning to vote before work, going during your lunch break, or will you stop in before heading home for the evening? Start planning now!
ANA-PAC's Endorsement Process

With less than one week until the November elections, ANA's Government Affairs team wants to make sure our members know and understand ANA-PAC's endorsement process for candidates seeking federal office.
Thirty-Three Senate Seats Up For Grabs!

With one week until the November 7th mid-term elections, many races are still too close to call. Do you know the Senate candidates in your state?

CDC Guidelines to Prevent Drug Resistance Infections

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has just released new guidelines outlining strategies to reduce the number of drug-resistant infections occurring within hospitals and other health facilities.
Fast ANA-PAC Fact

ANA's Political Action Committee (ANA-PAC) and complementary political education are key to ANA's legislative successes in the U.S. Congress. ANA-PAC raises money to support both Republican and Democrat candidates who understand and advocate for nursing issues.
AHRQ 2006 Guide to Clinical Preventive Services

The Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is partnering with United Health Foundation to distribute more than 400,000 copies of the 2006 Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, a new guide to evidence-based clinical preventive services recommendations, to clinicians nationwide.