Action alert from the American College of Nurse Practitioners: Virtual Capitol Hill Day to support HR4993/S2814, the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2010 which would allow Nurse Practitioners to order home health services under Medicare.
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.
Dear Representative / Senator _________:
As a practicing nurse practitioner, I am writing/calling to request that, before you/Congressman _____ return(s) home for the August recess, you/he/she cosponsor 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 / Senator Susan Collins in the Senate.
Medicare policy is compromising my ability to provide adequate care for my patients because, under Medicare, I am not authorized to order home health services even though I can provide all other aspects of care for that patient leading up to and after the home health services order has been placed. This requirement necessitates inclusion of another provider who may indeed not be aware of the patient or their condition. In many cases, this means that my patient must come in for a second office visit, at considerable cost to both the patient and to Medicare.
[insert personal story here: (i.e. I live in a rural area and don't have access to a physician to sign off on my order. / I have my own practice and don't have a relationship with a physician. / I have a patient who was not able to get the services she needed because of this law.)]
Please help me to be able to serve my patients and help them to access the Medicare services they need by cosponsoring this important legislation.
Thank you,
Step 3: Saying THANKS
If your Member of Congress is already a cosponsor of this bill, take a moment to say “thanks for being a leader on this important issue!” If your Member of Congress signs on to the bill and sends you a note to let you know, pick up the phone and say thank you. This campaign focuses on a very important issue – but it is only one of many issues that you and your organization may care about. Saying thanks is an easy way to let your Members of Congress know that their efforts are appreciated AND it may make them more inclined to help out in the future!
