Capitol Update, brought to you by the American Nurses Association
Capitol Update, a legislative newsletter for nurses
Volume 6/Issue No. 9 December 19, 2008
Article Photo Gearing Up for the Health Care Reform Debate

The 111th Congress will convene on January 6, 2009, and President Elect Barack Obama will take the oath of office on January 20th. With health care reform high on the agenda for the new Congress and Administration, the upcoming year promises a lot of excitement, opportunity, and hard work. ANA is fighting to ensure that nursing's perspective and the tenets of ANA's Health System Reform Agenda are reflected in the ongoing discussions and plans for health care reform, but we are counting on you to help.
110th Congress Wrap-Up

The 110th Congress convened on January, 15 2007 with high hopes that the new Democratic majorities in the House and Senate would make significant strides in health legislation. As the session gaveled to a close on December, 11 2008, nurses could take pride in a few victories, and look forward to a few more battles in the coming years. Following is a quick summary of our accomplishments and continued priorities.
ANA Testimony on Health Care Reform
On November 19, ANA submitted written testimony for a Senate Finance Committee hearing "Health Care Reform: An Economic Perspective," that focused on Finance Committee Chairman Baucus' "Call to Action" document outlining his vision for health care reform. ANA's testimony emphasizes that reform must provide, not just access to coverage, but access to care through the assurance available, qualified practitioners.

MEDICARE & MEDICAID UPDATE

There has been a flurry of activity by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) as the Bush Administration rushes to leave its imprint on Medicare and Medicaid policies. A recent and controversial Medicaid rule would severely limit outpatient services for the poor, while home health agencies will receive increased funding in 2009. APRNs who participate in Medicare may be interested in developments concerning the 2009 Physician Fee Schedule Update, E-Prescribing Initiative, enrollment online, and the RAC program. Finally, CMS has identified 15 "severe or disabling" conditions which qualify patients for Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plans.
VA Addresses Nursing Shortage With New Incentive Program

The Veterans Administration has adopted a final rule creating a new nursing incentive program to assist State Veterans Homes in hiring and retaining nurses and reducing their nursing shortages. The regulation appears in the December 3, 2008 Federal Register and takes effect on January 2, 2009. It adds a new program to the Code of Federal Regulations (38 CFR Chapter I, Part 53), entitled "Payments to States for Programs to Promote the Hiring and Retention of Nurses at State Veterans Homes." The rule implements provisions of the Veterans Health Programs Improvement Act of 2004.

Recapping 2008

The 2008 elections were historic. Voters on November 4th left their mark on the state political landscape, shifting the partisan control of state government in a dozen states. Democrats gained control of both houses in four state legislatures--Delaware, Nevada, New York and Wisconsin. Republicans gained two Southern legislatures, Oklahoma and Tennessee, for the first time. And women made history in New Hampshire. Like the elections, state legislative wins for nursing were also extraordinary. Read on for a recap.
Copyright 2008, American Nurses Association
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Exciting Election Comes to a Close!

Another election season has come to a close and the American Nurses Association has helped elect pro-nursing advocates from the White House to Congress. Eighty-eight percent of the candidates endorsed by ANA's Political Action Committee (PAC) board will be serving in the 111th Congress
ANA PAC Race for the Million Sprints to the End

ANA-PAC is committed to increasing ANA's strength on Capitol Hill through its financial campaign support of federal candidates who will advocate for our interests. ANA-PAC's goal of one million dollars is based on a two year (2007- 2008) election cycle. December marks the end of our two year "Race for the Million" campaign.

CMS Rates Quality of 15,800 Nursing Homes

On December 18, 2008, CMS released its first quality ratings for each of the 15,800 nursing homes which participate in Medicare or Medicaid. Each nursing home was assigned one to five stars based on health inspection surveys, staffing information, and quality of care measures. The ratings are publicly available on the "Nursing Home Compare" website at http://www.medicare.gov/.
NIH Adds Four New Complementary Medicine Research Centers

The National Institutes of Health's National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) has added four new Centers of Excellence for Research (CERs), bringing the total to eleven. CERs add to knowledge about complementary and alternative medicine approaches and their potential in treating and preventing diseases and conditions that are common among Americans.
Council of State Governments Annual Meeting

In early December, the American Nurses Association (ANA) was represented by Janet Haebler, Associate Director for State Government Affairs at the Council of State Government's (CSG's) annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska. Approximately 500 were in attendance, representing all levels of government, but primarily state legislators.

In addition to a seat on the health policy taskforce for the past two years which provides the opportunity to influence suggested (model) state legislation, ANA attendance also provides an opportunity to make connections with state legislators, educating them about nursing issues and encouraging them to dialogue with state nurses associations in their respective states. As expected, there was a lively debate as to whether health system reform will be dramatic or incremental with the new administration and what will be included.
Another Baby in GOVA!

Congratulations go out to ANA Senior Political Action Specialist Hilary Hansen and her husband Kurt who welcomed little Harper Jane Hansen into the world on Tuesday, November 11 at 10:45pm. Little Harper weighed in at 8 lbs 6 oz, and is 20 inches long. Mom, dad and baby are enjoying spending this precious time together.