Legislative Network for Nurses articles from June 2005

Legislative Network for Nurses archives from June 2005

TV aims to make more nurses a reality.(Slants & Trends)
June 6, 2005... TV AIMS TO MAKE MORE NURSES A REALITY. Access Nurses, a national travel nurse company, recently launched a trailer and opened a casting call for the first reality show about travel nurses who travel the country working at hospitals with acute...

House bill aims to link breast cancer with the environment.(Women's Health)
June 6, 2005... Nurses could be better prepared to advise women on how to prevent breast cancer if a new bill becomes law. Reps. Sue Myrick (R-N.C.) and Nita Lowey (D-N.Y.) recently introduced The Breast Cancer and Environmental Research Act, which would study...

Groups join to help women, providers prevent and diagnose heart disease.
June 6, 2005... Nurses and other health care providers need to put heart disease in the forefront of their minds when treating women, because heart disease is their number one killer, the Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses recently...

Companies understand value of employee health, RNs, study says.
June 6, 2005... Occupational health nurses must be better able to demonstrate their value to a company in dollars and cents if they want to keep their jobs in an era of budget cuts, Susan Randolph, president of the American Association of Occupational Health...

ANA hails bill expanding Medicaid to services provided by APRNs.
June 6, 2005... Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) would be able to serve more Medicaid beneficiaries, if a new bill introduced by Rep. John Olver (DMass.) becomes law. Cindy Price, senior public relations specialist at the ANA, told LNN that the...

Group urges better coordination, funding to address LTC RN shortage.
June 6, 2005... Federal, state and local governments must work together to produce more long-term care nurses, which are needed to maintain good quality care in the country's nursing homes and other long-term care facilities, a spokesperson for the American...

National Depression Screening Day 2005.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... "Fifteen years later, it's not just about depression. It's not just a day. It's not just desirable. It's necessary." That is the new campaign slogan for National Depression Screening Day 2005. This new campaign is designed to reflect the...

Flu vaccine.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Polling taken during the 2004 flu vaccine shortage found a high level of public concern but no consensus on who should be responsible for solving the problem, according to a recent report in Health Affairs. A substantial minority questioned...

Public health emergencies.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The Department of Health and Human Services has made available another $1.3 billion to the states, territories and four metropolitan areas to help strengthen their capacity to respond to terrorism and other public health emergencies. The funds...

Medicaid commission.
June 6, 2005... Pursuant to negotiations between the administration and the Senate, the Department of Health and Human Services on May 20 published a notice establishing a Medicaid commission "to advise the Secretary on ways to modernize the Medicaid program...

Nursing shortage in Canada.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... A recent research report reaffirms the nursing profession's concerns about the nursing shortage in Canada and urges the profession, as well as government policymakers, to develop a comprehensive strategy to address it. The report, Building the...

Nursing fellowships.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Johnson & Johnson recently announced that its Campaign for Nursing's Future has raised an additional $2.5 million this year, raising the total to more than $7 million for nursing fellowships, scholarships and grants. The $30 million awareness...

Information technology.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt recently issued a new report citing investment in information technology (IT) as an "essential, high priority" for the American health care system and the U.S. economy. The report, Health Information Technology...

Section 1011.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has released the final implementation guidance for Section 1011 of the Medicare Modernization Act, which includes $250 million per year for four years to reimburse hospitals, certain physicians and...

Bioterrorism.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Guidelines for officials on how to plan for delivering health and medical care in a mass casualty event are outlined in a new report released by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The report, Altered Standards of Care in Mass...

Clinical research.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The Partnership for Human Research Protection has launched a national campaign to educate people considering participation in clinical research trials about the risks and benefits of clinical research. The campaign centers around distribution...

Emergency management drills.
June 6, 2005... The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations is seeking input on proposed revisions to standards that would require organizations to perform more thorough evaluations of planned emergency management drills. The revisions...

Health care costs.(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Rewarding more-efficient and high-quality providers ranked first among effective ways to cut health care costs, according to the latest Commonwealth Fund Health Care Opinion Leaders survey, an online survey of widely recognized U.S. experts in...

National Provider Identifier.
June 6, 2005... The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has launched an online tool desgined to teach health care providers how to complete an online or paper application for a National Provider Identifier. The applications became available May 23....

Arizona.(State News)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Arizona: In the fiscal year 2006 budget passed last month by the Arizona Legislature, Arizona nursing schools are slated to receive $4 million a year for the next five years to expand capacity and graduate an additional 800 registered nurses...

California.(State News)(nursing ratio law)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... California: Superior Court Judge Judy Hersher has tentatively upheld a lawsuit by the California Nurses Association throwing out Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's (R) order to roll back key provisions of California's nursing ratio law. The judge's...

Illinois.(State News)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Illinois: Registered nurses employed by the Cook County Bureau of Health Services have voted 955-487 to join the National Nurses Organizing Committee. The win by NNOC, which was founded by the California Nurses Association, is its first outside...

Massachusetts.(State News)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Massachusetts: The Massachusetts legislature has formed a special legislative commission to work out a compromise between two competing nursing bills supported by the Massachusetts Hospital Association and the Massachusetts Nurses Association....

New York.(State News)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... New York: A federal district judge in New York has thrown out the state's "Employer Gag Law," which prohibited hospitals, nursing homes and other health care providers from speaking freely with their own workers during a unionization campaign....

Pennsylvania.(State News)(job satisfaction )(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Pennsylvania: Staffing levels were the single most significant determinant of job satisfaction for registered nurses in Pennsylvania, according to the results of focus groups conducted earlier this year by the Pennsylvania State Nurses...

Physician-owned limited service hospitals.(Legislation)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Sens. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Max Baucus (D-Mont.) have introduced legislation that would permanently extend the moratorium on physician-owned limited service hospitals that is set to expire on June 8. The bill would not apply to those...

Medicare physician payment schedule.(Legislation)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) May 19 joined with Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) to introduce legislation that would provide a two-year update to the Medicare physician payment schedule. The "Preserving Patient Access to Physicians Act of 2005" relies...

Nursing workforce development.(Legislation)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Fifty-one senators, representing a bipartisan majority of the Senate, have signed on to a "Dear Colleague" letter that asks for a $24 million increase for Title VIII nursing workforce development programs, including programs created under the...

Bioterrorism preparedness.(Legislation)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... In a May 23 letter to congressional appropriators, the American Hospital Association called for a strong commitment to hospitals' workforce needs and bioterrorism preparedness, and support for hospitals' efforts to broaden access to care. To...

Insurance coverage over state lines.(Legislation)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Rep. John Shadegg (R-Ariz.) recently introduced the Health Care Choice Act of 2005 (H.R. 2355). The bill would allow individuals to purchase health insurance coverage over state lines. The Health Care Choice Act is designed to give uninsured...

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and several cosponsors have introduced legislation (S. 528) for a one-year Money Follows the Person demonstration.(Legislation)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and several cosponsors have introduced legislation (S. 528) for a one-year Money Follows the Person demonstration. The Department of Health and Human Services would provide grants to states to allow Medicaid...

Trends affecting hospitals.(Resources)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The American Hospital Association has released the 5th annual Trendwatch Chartbook 2005, which depicts key trends affecting hospitals and health systems. Sections address such areas as utilization and volume, financing, workforce and the...

Patient Safety.(Joint Commission International Center for Patient Safety )(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The Joint Commission International Center for Patient Safety announced the launch of its new Web site designed to serve as a central repository of resources and information related to all aspects of patient safety. Contact:...

Nurse Migration.(Resources)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... The Commission on Graduates of Foreign Nursing Schools and the International Council of Nurses have announced the creation of the International Center on Nurse Migration, a new global resource for the development, promotion and dissemination of...

More from the states.(florida)(Brief Article)
June 6, 2005... MORE FROM THE STATES. Health care workers in Florida have joined together to form Service Employees International Union Florida Healthcare Union, a new labor organization that will represent 10,000 health care workers at more than 89 hospitals...

California RNs win legal battle to implement nurse staffing ratios.
June 20, 2005... Nurses were victorious in one of what may be a number of legal battles to come to ensure that minimum nurse staffing ratios in California hospitals are implemented. Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Judy Hersher June 7 issued a permanent...

RNs differ on support of House FY06 Appropriations bill.
June 20, 2005... Nursing workforce development programs would receive a little less funding in fiscal year 2006 than those programs received in fiscal year 2005, if Congress passes funding amounts recommended by the House Appropriations Committee. The...

Nurses other groups sue to strengthen mercury rule.
June 20, 2005... The Bush administration would be forced to strengthen its official rule on mercury pollution, if nurses and other health care groups are successful in a lawsuit against the government, the American Nurses Association recently told LNN ...

NPs reduce health risks of adults with developmental disabilities, study says.
June 20, 2005... A geriatric evaluation and follow-up visits by nurse practitioners can detect and reduce health problems in older adults with developmental disabilities, according to a new study by the University of California Los Angeles and Casa Colina...

Oklahoma Hospital implements new strategy to prevent ED overcrowding.
June 20, 2005... Nurses will be better able to help emergency room patients, thanks to an innovative strategy aimed at reducing emergency department (ED) overcrowding, the Emergency Nurses Association recently told LNN. Each year, more than 100 million...

Health care and biotechnology.(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao has announced the award of $12 million in grants to fund health care and biotechnology training projects under the president's High Growth Job Training Initiatives. Of the 12 grants awarded as a result of a Sept....

Reform Medicare payments.(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... To promote "true and fair competition" in hospital services, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said in a June 9 statement that it will review over the next six months its procedures for enrolling specialty hospitals in the Medicare...

Patient safety practices.(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has announced the awarding of more than $8 million in grants for 15 projects over two years that are designed to help clinicians, facilities and patients implement evidence-based patient safety...

EMTALA Technical Advisory Group.
June 20, 2005... In a recent letter sent to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt, the American Organization of Nurse Executives called for an emergency nurse to be appointed to the EMTALA Technical Advisory Group of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The...

Medication safety.(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Results of a national research study conducted by Harris Interactive and commissioned by McKesson show that 72 percent of frontline registered nurses surveyed believe that medication safety has improved in their hospital during the last five...

National Patient Safety Goals.(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations has announced its 2006 National Patient Safety Goals and related requirements for each of its accreditation programs and its disease-specific care certification program. Major...

Meningitis.(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended that children 11-12 years old, unvaccinated adolescents entering high school and college freshmen living in dormitories routinely receive a newly licensed vaccine (MCV4) against...

High-performance health systems.(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... The Commonwealth Fund has launched a commission aimed at moving the United States toward a health care system that "achieves better access, improved quality and greater efficiency," particularly for the most vulnerable due to income,...

Sharing of patient data.(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... A public-private initiative working to accelerate the sharing of patient data by medical communities announced plans for an electronic health information exchange prototype that will allow three disparate health information networks in...

Care for aging parents.(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... University of Missouri-Columbia researchers found that while young and middle-aged adults today believe they should help and care for aging parents, adults over the age of 65 are less likely to think that aging adults should be helped by...

California.(State News)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... California: While the number of nurses in California has risen as compared to population growth in the past five years, the state's nursing shortage is expected to worsen during the next 25 years, according to a recent report released by the...

Georgia.(State News)(Saint Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta )(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Georgia: Saint Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta has announced the development of The Kenneth E. Thomas Center for Nursing Excellence as part of a $311 million, five-year expansion program. Named after a pioneering cardiothoracic surgeon, the center...

Georgia: Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare and Mercer University have formed a partnership that will create several joint initiatives, including nursing, pharmacy, research and other medical and allied health education programs as part of a Center for Health and Learning.(State News)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Georgia: Atlanta-based Piedmont Healthcare and Mercer University have formed a partnership that will create several joint initiatives, including nursing, pharmacy, research and other medical and allied health education programs as part of a...

Illinois.(State News)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Illinois: Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D) is expected to sign a bill into law later this summer that both houses passed May 30. The Healthcare Setting Violence Prevention Act (HB 399) calls for the Illinois Department of Health Services and Illinois...

Maryland.(State News)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Maryland: In a recent survey conducted by the Maryland Hospital Association, acute care hospitals in the state have reported an RN vacancy rate of 9.2 percent, down substantially from 15.6 percent recorded in 2001. About 1,500 nurses are still...

Vermont.(State News)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... Vermont: HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt June 13 announced a new Medicaid program that will give elderly and disabled Vermont residents more options to remain in their homes and communities and out of institutions. The Vermont Long Term Care Plan,...

Johnson & Johnson.(Funding Opportunities)
June 20, 2005... Johnson & Johnson and the Society for the Arts in Healthcare invites applications that seek to promote the use of the arts to enhance the healthcare experience for patients, their families and caregivers. Proposals are being sought from health...

Visiting Nurse Associations of America.(Funding Opportunities)
June 20, 2005... Visiting Nurse Associations of America is accepting applications for VNAA Curricula for Homecare Advances in Management and Practice (CHAMP), a practice improvement program designed to improve geriatric care provided by home health care...

Nursing School Capacity Act.(Legislation)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... In a recent letter to Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.), the American Organization of Nurse Executives has expressed its support for The Nursing School Capacity Act of 2005 (H.R. 2184). Introduced by Holt last month, the bill would direct the Institute...

Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act.(Legislation)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... The American Association of Colleges of Nursing announced it is supporting the Community-Based Health Care Retraining Act (S. 444), sponsored by Sen. Russell Feingold (D-Wis.). The bill would amend the Workforce Investment Act to help...

Around the world.(Hiroko Minami elected as president of International Council of Nurses)(Brief Article)
June 20, 2005... AROUND THE WORLD. Hiroko Minami has been elected as the 25th president of the International Council of Nurses. Minami is the immediate past president of the Japanese Nurses Association and director of the Japanese Academy of Nursing Science....