Advocating for Patient Health
By Donna Hamby
GAPNA’s Health Affairs Committee has been very busy this year meeting objectives: 1) maintaining relationships with government officials, organizations, employers, and key stakeholders and educating them on issues affecting older adults, and 2) advocating for legislation, regulation, and financing opportunities that will optimize the health and care of older adults.
One of the methods used to meet these objectives was by committee liaisons connecting with other nursing and healthcare organizations.
This past year GAPNA was able to sign several letters with the Nursing Community Coalition addressing Title XIX budgets and the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act that would end restrictions for nurse practitioners.
The APRN Workgroup with the Nurse Practitioner Roundtable also had sign-on opportunities for the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act. The Home Health and Hospice Coalition had two members of their committee develop a survey to gain supportive information on APPs and certificate of terminal illness.
Staying up to date on bills pending in congress and what other groups are advocating, especially if it affects our patients, the nurses, caregivers, and our membership, is also a major part of our meetings.
Our representative of the Advancing Excellence in Long-Term Care Collaborative has kept the committee informed on Leading Age and the American Health Care Association positions for nursing home improvement. The representative of the National Council of State Boards of Nursing updates the group on what the state boards of nursing are doing.
The Telehealth Caucus representative keeps us updated on their efforts with promoting regulation. While the Health Affairs Committee focuses on federal issues, membership is notified if there is regulation in a state that potentially affects our members’ practice or the health care of patients.
We also encourage all GAPNA members to send letters to their congressional representatives.
Be a part of the Health Affairs Committee. If you have no experience, no worries. We mentor new members. Be sure to attend the Annual Conference September 15 to hear the committee provide guidance on how to advocate effectively.
Donna Hamby, DNP, ACNP-BC, RN, DEGN
rdlh2011@gmail.com