Florida Panhandle Nurse Practitioner Coalition

From NAPNAP: Contact your Representatives Today re: HR 4993

Posted almost 14 years ago by Stanley F Whittaker

From NAPNAP: Contact your Representatives Today re: HR 4993

HR 4993 Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act

Take Action!

Please contact your Representative Today!

Please contact your Representative about HR 4993 Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2010. This bill was introduced by Allyson Schwartz in the House of Representatives on April 13, 2010. Currently, there are 49 Representatives co-sponsoring this bill.

What is this bill about? This bill would eliminate the restrictions in Medicare reimbursement that prevent nurse practitioners from placing orders for home health care services. This bill 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. Currently, under the Social Security Act, only physicians can order home health care services despite the fact that physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse midwives are authorized Medicare providers. Click here to view the bill.

Why is this important for you, a pediatric nurse practitioner? This bill will pave the way for all other insurance types to follow. Once Medicare starts accepting nurse practitioner orders for home health care services, other insurance types may as well. In your letter to your Representative let him/her know how this bill will affect your ability to provide all of the care your pediatric patients need.

What are we asking you to say in your letter, email or phone call? Please see below for the form letter. You may either use this letter and add your personal story or create your own letter. We would like you to ask your Representative to co-sponsor this bill. We need to double the number of co-sponsors for this bill by the end of July. If your Representative is not on this list, please ask him/her to co-sponsor this bill. If your Representative is on this list, please send him/her a thank you note for co-sponsoring this important bill for nurse practitioners. Click here to view sponsors and bill.

When should I send this note or call my Representative? Please send your notes or make your phone calls by the end of this week, June 18, 2010. If you do decide to call instead of sending an email please let me know who you contacted and any comments that you received. Send these to healthpolicy@napnap.org.

What do I do if I still have questions? Please contact me at healthpolicy@napnap.org if you still have questions about this bill and what action you should take. If you would like more information about this bill go to www.thomas.gov.

Thank you for your time and effort on this important issue.

Ann Sheehan

NAPNAP Health Policy Chair

 

 

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