Advocacy

HPAC Projects
Support nursing within the Nursing Community
Support cancer research, prevention, and education with One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC)
Support State  Legislation to  prohibit tanning bed use by Children with The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network ACS CAN
Support The American Society for Dermatologic Surgery Association SUNucate

Advocacy Letters DNA has Signed

• HR 282 EC Multi-Organization Support
• HR 282 Multi-Organization Support
• HR 6836 Group Sign-On
• Request to Pass Title VIII Re-Authorization

HPAC Purpose and Objectives

To promote awareness within the DNA of issues and concerns in the area of Health Policy and Advocacy that assists DNA and it’s members to achieve their strategic goal of effectively advocating for members, patients, and the general public by:

1. Increasing membership involvement and understanding in health policy and advocacy efforts.
2. Acting as a resource for information on issues related to health policy and advocacy.
3. Working with members to investigate, consider, report, and act on advocacy issues commensurate with DNA’s Strategic plan.
4. Facilitating membership awareness, discussions, and activities.

HPAC Members

Below is a summary of the Nursing Community Coalition’s (NCC) activity for the month of September, 2018.

Letter to Appropriators for FY 2019
Fifty-one organizations signed on to a letter sent to the Members of the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Defense Appropriations Conference Committee requesting they support at least the Senate’s recommended levels of $249.472 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $163.076 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research in the final FY 2019 appropriations bill.
Update: The House has passed H.R. 6157 by a vote 361-61. The FY 2019 minibus spending package provides level funding, $249.472 million, for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Program and $39.084 billion (a $2 billion or 5.39% increase from FY 2018) for the National Institutes of Health, of which $162.992 million is designated for the National Institute of Nursing Research (a $4.989 million or 3.16% increase from FY 2018). Previously passed by the Senate, by a vote 93-7, this legislation now awaits President Trump’s signature before becoming law.

Conference Request Letter on Final Opioid Package
Forty-seven members of the Nursing Community Coalition signed on to a letter, sent to Congressional Leadership and the committees of jurisdiction, urging the inclusion of Section 3003 of H.R. 6 in any final opioid package. This provision would permanently authorize nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe Medication-Assisted Treatments (MATs) and would provide a five-year authorization for certified registered nurse anesthetists, certified nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists to do so as well.
Update: Conference discussions on an opioid package have been finalized. Included in the conferenced opioid package is Section 3201, previously listed as Section 3003, which would permanently authorize nurse practitioners and physician assistants to prescribe Medication-Assisted Treatments (MATs) and provide a five-year authorization for the other three APRN roles to do so as well. The House and Senate are expected to vote on the conferenced legislation as early as next week.

Events
10 Year Anniversary Celebration
Over sixty participants from NCC organizations attended the September 12th anniversary celebration. NCC members and advocates celebrated ten years of the NCC’s work to advocate as a collective voice on health care issues, including nursing practice, education, research, and regulation. This event featured a morning session to recognize the NCC’s organizations’ unique collaboration, strategic federal outreach, and an evening reception to honor the dedication of our Congressional champions.

Meetings
The NCC held their monthly meeting on September 4, 2018 with 33 NCC organizations in attendance.

External Presence
Nursing Community Website: Site Visits: 3,200 Top Page Visited: News
Twitter: @RN_Community New Followers: 58 Total Followers: 767 Profile Visits: 841 Tweet Impressions: 22,100
Top Tweet: Thank you for all that you do to champion nursing on the Hill @RepDaveJoyce pic.twitter.com/B9WRMyTILa

For more information on the Nursing Community please visit: www.thenursingcommunity.org