North Texas Nurse Practitioners

A Call To Action

Posted over 7 years ago by Dr. Karla Smith

Per AANP site:
Update & Action Request: Support to Finalize and Implement the VA's APRN Proposed Rule
AANP thanks the many of you who submitted comments for the VHA Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Proposed Rule (81 Fed.Reg.33155, May 25, 2016) to the Federal Register. Thousands of comments were submitted through the AANP Advocacy Center during the comment period and due to your efforts, the Voice of the Nurse Practitioner was heard. However, opponents are still trying to block implementation of this policy, and are reaching out to Members of Congress to delay the proposal through legislation that extends expiring benefits for our nation's veterans. New legislation was introduced late last week, the Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act (HR 5985). The bill includes an unrelated provision (Sec. 415) that would prevent the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from allowing our APRN colleagues, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), to practice to the full extent of their education within VHA facilities.

NEW ACTION NEEDED: AANP members are encouraged to immediately contact your Members of Congress and ask them to urge the VA to finalize and implement the proposed rule as written. Additionally, we are asking that Members request HR 5985 be removed from the House legislative calendar until a clean bill (without Section 415) can be considered to protect veterans' benefits. **Note: this is a different request from our May-July effort. If you engaged in those efforts, your action is still needed to reach Congress.** Our goal is to urge the VA to publish the final rule in the Federal Register and to stop any effort to impede veterans' access to care. Please act today, Members of Congress are back in D.C. for just a few short weeks. It is imperative your voice continues to be heard and we keep Congress focused on this important issue.

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