Federal Issue Briefs
Informing NPs on Health Policy, Sharing the NP Perspective
Your voice matters—not just to your patients, but also to health care leaders and legislators on Capitol Hill. AANP is committed to amplifying your voice by offering information and tools that empower you to share your unique perspective and expertise as a nurse practitioner (NP) directly with policymakers.
Federal Policy Priorities
Learn AANP’s Federal Policy Priorities, shaped by clinical experience and informed by evidence from members and stakeholders alike.
The Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act
The ICAN Act removes barriers to care and increases access to services provided by NPs and other advanced practice registered nurses under the Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Provide Federal Employees Timely Access to Health Care for Workplace Injuries
Currently, federal employees can select an NP as their health care provider under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and the majority of states authorize NPs to provide the diagnosis and treatment for a workplace related injury. However, contrary to the workers’ compensation process in most states, FECA requires that only a physician can make the diagnosis, certify the injury and extent of the disability, and oversee the patient’s treatment and care. This barrier places an additional burden on the nearly 2 million federal employees, depriving them from receiving health care from their provider of choice as well as hindering timely access to care and continuity of care.
Improve Medicare Patient Access to Cardiac and Pulmonary Rehabilitation
NPs are clinically trained to provide high-quality and timely care to cardiac and pulmonary patients. NPs also routinely serve as frontline providers in critical care environments, including critical access hospitals, hospitals and hospital clinics, emergency rooms, intensive care units, cardiac catheterization laboratories, health centers, urgent care centers and many other sites. While an NP may be the primary care provider for a patient and be most familiar with the patient’s health care needs, under current law, the NP must refer the patient to a physician to order these services. Removal of this outdated barrier will increase Medicare patient access to these lifesaving programs.
Improve Medicare Patient Access to Needed Diabetic Shoes
NPs must currently send their diabetic patients who need therapeutic shoes to a physician to certify that need. See why AANP calls on Congress to support improving diabetic patients’ access to NP care.
Recognize Nurse Practitioner Practices as Medicare Shared Savings Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)
Medicare beneficiaries who receive their primary care services from NPs are currently prevented from being assigned to ACOs in the Medicare Shared Savings program. Discover why AANP calls on Congress to improve the way beneficiaries are assigned under this program.
Enable Nurse Practitioners to Participate Fully as Members of Hospital Medical Staffs
While NPs may currently be considered for appointment to medical staffs and granting of clinical privileges, they are not ensured objective, timely evaluation or the right to appeal. See why AANP supports legislation to reform the Medicare statute and hospital conditions of participation to provide non-discriminatory guidance for evaluation.
Improve Patient Access to Medicare Hospice Services
NPs are currently still unable to provide the initial certification of patients for hospice care. Discover why AANP urges Congress to remedy this problem and improve Medicare beneficiaries’ access to hospice care.
Improve Patient Access to Medicare Skilled Nursing Care
For more than 25 years, NPs have been authorized to provide Medicare services to residents of long-term care facilities. Explore why NPs should be authorized to perform admitting examinations and monthly patient assessments in skilled nursing facilities.