Don't Rest During the Recess!
Congress is in recess this month, and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP) says it's the perfect time for you to inform your federal legislators about issues that matter to NPs and PAs. This week, NAPNAP posted a toolkit to assist NPs in doing this. Meanwhile, the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) has issued an advocacy challenge to its members to encourage contact with lawmakers.
Some of the key issues to prod or inform lawmakers about include:
- the need for more cosponsors on the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act (S 227/HR 2267)
- the need for more cosponsors on the Medicaid Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants Access Act (S 56/HR 2134)
- the need to protect healthcare funding in federal budget negotiations (NANAP writes: "Specifically, Congress and the Obama administration should reject efforts to shift costs to states by capping Medicaid funding or converting it to block grants. Congress should support current requirements that states maintain Medicaid eligibility and enrollment policies while new state-based health insurance exchanges are implemented."
How can you find contact information for your congressional representatives? NAPNAP offers direct links through its CapWiz connection in its legislative action center, and AAPA's legislative center has a version of this easy-to-use search tool as well. Enter your zip code and you're on your way to connecting with the people who represent you in Washington, D.C. What are you waiting for? Connect today!