APNA actively supports health care reform. To do so, we work with and through a number of coalitions.   Please explore the links below to learn how we are involved.

Campaign for Mental Health Reform
Mental Health Liason Group
The Nursing Community

Issue Statements:

Appropriations

• January 2009 letter to President Obama in support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which also detailed concerns about Federal discretionary health spending and funding for health information technology.

Nursing

• July 2010 letter to the Committee of Appropriations urging approval of the Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education's appropriation for Nursing Workforce Development
• July 2010 letter to Senators Harkin and Cochran pushing for a substantial investment in nursing education by the Senate LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee.
• April 2010 letter to the chairman of the Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education requesting an increase in funding for Nursing Workforce Development programs.
• April 2010 testimony of the Nursing Community Regarding Fiscal Year 2011 appropriations for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs.
• November 2009 letter to President Obama commending him for for the significant investment he has made to strengthening the nursing workforce.
• July 2009 letter requesting approval of the President’s overall budget proposal of $263.4 million for the Title VIII – Nursing Workforce Development Programs of the Public Health Service Act and also requesting funding of the Advanced Education Nursing Program (Sec. 811) at an increased level on par with the other Title VIII programs.
• July 2009 letter from the nursing community urging passage of health care reform that is patient-centered, comprehensive, affordable and accessible.

Parity

• April 2010 comments by the Mental Health Liason Group regarding Interim Final Rules under the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
• May 2009 letter in support of health care reform that continues in the spirit of the recent mental health and addiction parity legislation.
• May 2009 response to a request for information from several government agencies regarding the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.

Mental Health Care Reform

• February 2010 letter in support of passing the Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Reauthorization Act.
• February 2009 letter to Senator Durbin supporting the Mental Health on Campus Improvement Act.

Integrated Care

• June 2009 letter strongly supporting the Reed Mental Health/Primary Care Co-location Amendment to the Affordable Health Care Choices Act.

General Health Care Reform

• March 2010 letter to Nancy Pelosi in support of health care reform, specifically the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
• February 2010 letter to Nancy Pelosi urging the passage of health care reform in a timely manner.
• January 2010 letter to Nancy Pelosi supporting the Affordable Health Care Act and detailing concerns regarding:  mental health & substance abuse coverage, integrated health care, medicaid, CHIP and long-term services and supports, workforce development, prevention & wellness, health disparities, comparative effectiveness research, Medicare, and the Act's effect on state laws.
• November 2009 letter to Nancy Pelosi written in strong support of the Affordable Health Care for America Act.
• October 2009 letter thanking several lawmakers for their dedication and commitment to merging the Affordable Health Choices Act of 2009 with the America’s Healthy Future Act.
  
• September 2009 letter to Chairman Baucus expressing support for America's Healthy Future Act.
• July 2009 letter in support of the Affordable Health Choices Act.
• June 2009 letter to Chairman Kennedy enthusiastically supporting the Affordable Health Choices Act.
  
   

YOUR VIEWS AND FEEDBACK ARE WELCOME! - Please send c/o Nicholas Croce Jr, MS, Executive Director, at ncroce@apna.org.