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ANA Government Affairs is hard at work trying to get legislation introduced, which would allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) - nurse practitioners (NPs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), as well as physician assistants (PAs) - to order home health services under Medicare in accordance with state law. Medicare has recognized the autonomous practice of APRNs for nearly two decades, and these health care professionals now coordinate the majority of skilled care to home health patients. Unfortunately, a quirk in Medicare law has kept APRNs from signing home health plans of care and from certifying Medicare patients for the home health benefit. In areas where access to physicians is limited, this outdated prohibition has led to delays in health care delivery. Moreover, these delays in care inconvenience patients and their families. Additionally, delays can lead to increased cost to the Medicare system when patients are unnecessarily left in more expensive institutional settings. » Read more
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