ACNP Forum

2008 National Nurse Practitioner Summit and Leadership Confer ence Barbara Safriet, JD, Keynote Speaker The American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP)

dees focused on legislative activity in the 110th

held its 15th National NP Summit and Leadership

Congress affecting NPs and strategies for improving

Conference on February 7-10, 2008, in Washington,

the practice environment in their home states.

DC. The NP Summit included a briefing on legislative

Among the issues discussed were in-depth policy

issues currently affecting nurse practitioner (NP) prac-

examination of issues surrounding the convenient

tice by ACNP’s government relations consultants

care (retail clinics) industry, pay for performance,

from Drinker Biddle Reath before the NP attendees

“medical homes,” the campaign for direct-to-con-

visited their Members of Congress on Capitol Hill.

sumer (DTC) provider-neutral language, a review of

Barbara Safriet, JD, LLM, former associate dean,

recent NP malpractice cases, the update of the

Yale University School of Law, and author and lec-

National Council of State Boards of Nursing

turer on advanced practice nurses’ regulatory status,

(NCSBN) Vision Paper, as well as the doctor of nurs-

health care workforce, licensure, and practice, was

ing practice (DNP). Stay tuned for further summaries

the keynote speaker at the Summit. Summit atten-

on issues debated at the Summit.

ACNP’s PAC Successful at Clinical Conference Conference. And to all of you who “forgot” your

a successful “Project Funway” at the clinical confer-

checkbooks or did not have a credit card handy, we

ence in San Antonio, Texas. A contest was held to

would like to remind you that we still need your PAC

create a new PAC logo. After a competitive vote, the

contributions! (ACNP members should mail checks to

winning design was selected. The winning logo was

ACNP PAC, PO Box 77673, Washington, DC 20013).

revealed at the National NP Summit in a grand unveil-

We are happy to receive checks and credit card

ing. Stay tuned for a roll-out of several tasteful items

pledges any time. Remember, 2008 is a big year for

for purchase with the PAC’s outstanding new logo.

voters and for the ACNP PAC. Donate early and

Federal guidelines require that PAC donors be mem-

donate often! Our motto is, “Just say YES!”

bers of ACNP. From Nan and MJ: “We thank all those generous

Nanette Alexander and MJ Henderson

PAC donors who helped us raise $5,980 at the Clinical

ACNP PAC Cochairs

Now Available: AHRQ’s Evidence-Based Handbook for Nurses Patient Safety and Quality: an Evidence-based

in the field review the literature on a variety of

Handbook for Nurses, edited by Ronda G. Hughes,

aspects of patient safety and quality, such as evi-

PhD, MHS, RN, and published by the Agency for

dence-based practice and health services research;

Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), is now

patient-centered care, family care-giving and preven-

available at no cost to all health care professionals.

tion; safety, including medication management, error

You can obtain your copy from AHRQ Publications

reporting and disclosure, and personal safety for nurs-

Clearinghouse. Call (800) 358-9295 and order AHRQ

es; quality improvement, including improving surgical

publication No. 07-0015 (available in print, on CD,

outcomes, medication reconciliation, and prevention

or for download to your own computer; see

or management of hospital acquired infections; elec-

www.ahrq.gov).

tronic health records, computerized patient order

AHRQ and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

entry, and technology to support high-reliability nurse

have partnered to prepare this comprehensive hand-

documentation. Eileen O’Grady, PhD, NP, wrote the

book for nurses on patient safety and quality. Experts

chapter addressing nurse practitioner issues.

A C N P FORUM

The ACNP’s Political Action Committee (PAC) hosted

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2008 Advanced Public Policy Institute for Health Professionals ACNP is hosting its second 5-day Advanced Public

expectations or pay-for-performance and quality initia-

Policy Institute (APPI) for Health Professionals on

tives, effect of retail clinic evolution on health policy, and

March 10-14, 2008. The APPI is designed for an inter-

advanced telecommunications and health information

disciplinary audience of health professionals —

technology questions. In addition to the opportunity for

advanced practice nurses, physical therapists, occu-

face-to-face interactions during the Institute, the sched-

pational therapists, physician assistants, and others

ule will feature both large- and small-group sessions

who are focused on the public policy dimension of

with Washington insiders. Another highlight of this

health care delivery.

experience is that attendees learn to navigate

Institute attendees will learn more about the nuts and

Washington, DC, and meet and observe policy makers

bolts of health issues in Congress and the administra-

at work. Visit www.acnpweb.org for conference regis-

tion, behind-the-scenes policy debates and outcomes,

tration, program, and housing information.

A C N P FORUM

New CE Opportunity for Nurse Practitioners!

146

With the goal of offering timely and relevant continu-

To facilitate record keeping and CE management,

ing education (CE) for nurse practitioners in a con-

NPs are asked to register by creating an easy-to-

venient, easily accessible environment, ACNP’s

remember login ID and password. This allows the NP

Online Learning Center features a variety of pertinent

to take a break and resume his or her CE session at

clinical educational programs. Each 1-hour CE ses-

any point. The site includes complete instructions

sion features an audio presentation (with PowerPoint

and frequently asked questions. Visit ACNP’s CE

slides) initially presented at the 2007 National Clinical

Online Learning Center to view a list of available ses-

Conference.

sions and descriptions at www.acnpweb.org.

Latest ACNP Legislative Tracking Chart Now Available (Members Only) The ACNP Legislative Tracking Chart summarizes leg-

stituents would be helped by passage of the legisla-

islation in the 110th Congress that affects NPs and

tion carry a powerful message.

their ability to provide patient care services, and the

It is particularly important to tell the Members of

health care delivery system. Visit www.acnpweb.org

Congress about your own individual clinical practice set-

for “Members Only” to view the chart.

ting and what types of patients you see every day. You

Please review the list of bills and check whether

might even invite the Member of Congress to spend a

your Members of Congress are signed on as co-spon-

day with you in your clinic to talk to some of the citizens

sors of the ACNP-supported bills. If not, please con-

who are their constituents. If he or she agrees, you can

tact them to let them know which bills you and your

set up a “Talk to Your Member of Congress” table in the

professional NP organization are supporting, urging

waiting room and let the health care providers talk either

them to support the bills that are important to you.

as a group or one on one about their issues and needs

Patient care scenarios that show how patients/con-

from the health care system.

2008 Public Policy Agenda Annually, the participants of the National NP

With every potential action that comes before ACNP, we ask, “Does this issue match or fit with our

necessary changes. This key ACNP statement guides

Public Policy Agenda?” By asking this question, we

and directs ACNP’s government relations consult-

conserve our time, energy, and resources to be

ants, the board of directors, the staff, and all state,

directed to the most appropriate areas. A printable

national, and group affiliates of ACNP on where to

copy of the agenda is readily available under the

focus their energies for legislative issues in 2008.

Policy/Advocacy tab at www.acnpweb.org.

Legislative Issues of 110th Congress That Affect NPs The 110th Congress has been busy, starting out quick-

primary health care services to vulnerable popula-

ly in January 2007, with the introduction of several

tions living in underserved communities around the

pieces of health-related legislation affecting NPs.

nation and would reduce the level of health dispari-

ACNP works closely with other national nursing organ-

ties experienced by vulnerable populations. ACNP

izations’ government relations staff, Capitol Hill staff,

supports this bill and is alerting the membership to

and our government relations consultants in deter-

contact their Senators to urge them to sign on as

mining whether or not to support an issue.

cosponsors at this time.

Improving Access to Workers Compensation for

Home Health Care Access Protection Act of 2007

Injured Federal Workers Act of 2007 (S.1796) was

(S 2181) was introduced on October 17, 2007, by

introduced July 17, 2007, by Senators Kennedy (D-

Senator Collins (R-ME) with Senators Robert Casey

MA), Isakson (R-GA), and Collins (R-ME) and in the

(R-PA), Christopher Bond ((R-MO), Maria Cantwell

House by Representatives Phil Hare (D-IL) and Mark

(D-WA), and Jack Reed (D-RI) as cosponsors. On

Souder (R-IN). This bill would amend the Federal

November 8, 2007, Rep. James McGovern (D-MA)

Employee’s Compensation Act (FECA) to recognize

introduced HR 3865 as the House Companion bill.

physician assistants and advanced practice nurses as

This bill would have the secretary of HHS convene a

covered providers.

Technical Advisory Group to advise the secretary on

Nurse-Managed Health Clinic Investment Act of

differences in real changes in case mix and changes

2007 (S 2112), was introduced on September 27,

in coding or classification of different units of service

2007, by Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI), with Senators

applying to home care patients.

Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Daniel Akaka (D-HI) as cosponsors. The clinics would offer comprehensive

A C N P FORUM

Summits review the Public Policy Agenda and make

To obtain the full language of any bill go to the Thomas website at www.thomas.gov. 147

Authorization Versus Appropriation:

A C N P FORUM

How Decisions of Government Funds Are Made and Monies Divided Robert Waters, JD, Drinker Biddle Reath LLP

nursing shortage crisis and lack of funding for nursing

Congress exercises its power of federal spending

education programs. In 2001, the nursing community

through authorizing and appropriating money to

decided more needed to be done to address the nurs-

different programs. The process consists of 2 sepa-

ing shortage so they started working with Members

rate steps: first, the enactment of an authorization

of Congress, and in December 2001 the “Nurse

measure to create or to continue an agency or pro-

Reinvestment Act” was introduced in the House of

gram; second, an appropriation measure needs to

Representatives and the Senate. The House bill went

pass to provide funds for the authorized agency or

to its assigned authorizing committee, the House

program. Authorization legislation grants legal author-

Energy and Commerce Committee, and the Senate

ity for federal programs and activities to exist and

bill went directly to the Senate floor. By the July 2002

to authorize subsequent appropriations to fund them.

the Nurse Reinvestment Act was sent to the White

Authorization measures are under the jurisdiction of

House and the president signed the measure into law

the designated House and Senate committees,

on August 1, 2002.

whereas the House and Senate Appropriations

The work of the nursing community paid off, and

Committees have jurisdiction over appropriations

additional programs addressing nurses’ needs were

measures. The authorization bills provide a legal struc-

authorized by Congress. Every year since 2002, the

ture for a program

nursing community has worked hard to see that these

An appropriation bill grants the actual amount

programs are actually funded. As a result of these

approved by an authorization bill for the federal fund-

efforts, resources have been appropriated in each of

ing of all agencies, departments, and programs. All

the Labor, Health and Human Services-Education

appropriations bills must be passed by both houses

Appropriations (LHHS) bills from fiscal year 2003 to

of Congress and signed by the president by the begin-

fiscal year 2008 to support federal nursing develop-

ning of the fiscal year. In recent years, Congress

ment programs.

has missed this deadline, resulting in the use of a

For fiscal year 2008, Congress has provided $169.7

Congressional Resolution to extend funding for pro-

million, but as of the writing of this article the bill has

grams at the current year level until the appropriations

been vetoed by the president. Next year the Nurse

bills for the next year are finalized. Programs such

Reinvestment Act will need to be reauthorized and, of

as Medicare and Medicaid are considered mandatory

course, appropriated again. Your help will be needed

spending and therefore do not go through the normal

to encourage your Congressional representatives to

authorization and appropriations process.

continue their support of important nursing education

A real example of this process is shown through the nursing community’s efforts in addressing the

ACNP website to take action!

Physician Quality Reporting Initiative (PQRI), also known as Pay-for-Performance (P4P) NPs are among the eligible professionals who are

all NPs to participate in PQRI to show NP quality and

able to participate in the new quality reporting initia-

effectiveness of care. See the CMS website

tive launched by the Centers for Medicare and

http://cms.hhs.gov/pqri for full details.

Medicaid Services (CMS) on March 19, 2007. ACNP

1555-4155/08/$ see front matter © 2008 American College of Nurse Practitioners doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2007.12.009

Immediate Past President Susan Apold encourages 148

and workforce programs, so stayed tuned to the