Issues
Home Health Bill for NPs and PAs to order Home Health for their Patients
American College of Nurse Practitioners
ACTION ALERT!
Virtual Capitol Hill Day
H.R.4993/S.2814, the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2010
On Thursday, July 22, 2010, nursing organizations across the broad range of nursing specialties will join together in support of H.R. 4993 / S. 2814, the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2010. On that day, thousands of nurse practitioners from across the country will participate in a "Virtual Capitol Hill Day," by contacting their Members of Congress and asking them to cosponsor this important bill.
PLAN TO GET INVOLVED! By planning just a few minutes to take action, you can have a tremendous impact. Just follow the 3 simple steps below. We have only a few days before Members of Congress return home for recess. We must put Policy into Action now!
What is the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2010?
Currently, nurse practitioners are not able to order home health care services despite the fact that physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and certified nurse midwives are authorized Medicare providers. H.R. 4993 / S. 2814, the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2010, as introduced by Representative Allyson Schwartz in the House of Representatives and Senator Susan Collins in the Senate, recognizes and authorizes nurse practitioners as eligible health care professionals who can order home health services under Medicare, ensuring that Medicare patients requiring these services receive optimal continuity of care.
Plan to Take Action!
Step 1: Is your Member of Congress already a cosponsor? (You can do this step in advance so that you can plan your letters / phone calls on July 22!)
* Go to http://thomas.loc.gov, and type in "the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act," in the space provided.
* Click on H.R. 4993.
* Click on the "cosponsors" link.
* Check the list to see if your Representative is a cosponsor. (Don't know who your representative is? Go to www.house.gov)
* Click on S. 2814. (at the top of the page listed as "related bills")
* Check the list to see if either or both of your Senators are cosponsors. (Don't know who your Senators are? Go to www.senate.gov)
* If your Member of Congress is ALREADY A COSPONSOR, skip to step 3. Don't forget to contact those Members who have not cosponsored the bill.
Step 2: Plan your message.
The easiest and most effective way to reach your Member of Congress is to call his/her Washington, DC office. However, if you would prefer to use email, Members of Congress have online email systems that you can access through their web pages (found at www.house.gov and www.senate.gov respectively.) You can also find the phone numbers for your Members' Washington, DC offices on their web sites. You can use the letter below as a guide for your email or phone conversation.