Federal Issues Documents

Related Resources

• Funding for Nursing Workforce Development

  
  ANA is working to convince Congress to significantly increase funding for the Nursing Workforce Development programs administered by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act. ANA is asking for $267.3 million in fiscal year (FY) 2011, which would be a 10% increase.

• Immigration and the Nurse Workforce

  
  ANA opposes the Rural and Urban Health Care Act of 2005 (H.R. 248) which would weaken current certification requirements for nurses educated in foreign schools of nursing. Congress should focus on programs that recruit and retain American nurses in patient care, instead of looking overseas for a risky quick-fix to the nursing shortage.

• Safe Staffing Fact Sheet [pdf]

  
  ANA supports the Registered Nurse Safe Staffing Act, which would hold hospitals accountable for the development of valid, reliable unit-by-unit nurse staffing plans. These plans would be developed in coordination with direct care registered nurses (RNs) and based on each unit’s unique characteristics and needs. The bill also provides for public reporting of staffing information, and includes whistle-blower protections for RNs and others who may file a complaint regarding staffing.

• Safe Chemicals, Nursing and Public Health

  
  

• Safe Patient Handling Movement

  
  

• APRN Ability to Certify Home Health Plans of Care

  
  Medicare has recognized the independent practice of APRNs for nearly two decades, and these health care professionals now provide 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.

• Medicaid Coverage of Advanced Practice Nursing

  
  

• PPACA Support Letter

  
  

• Selected Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act - Dates of Interest [pdf]

  
  

• Fighting for Safe Chemicals Fact Sheet [pdf]