January 27, 2017 The Honorable Paul Ryan Speaker United States ...

January 27, 2017 The Honorable Paul Ryan Speaker United States House of Representatives U.S. Capitol Building, H-232 Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Democratic Leader United States House of Representatives U.S. Capitol Building, H-204 Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader United States Senate U.S. Capitol Building, S-230 Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable Chuck Schumer Democratic Leader United States Senate U.S. Capitol Building, S-221 Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Speaker Ryan, Majority Leader McConnell, Minority Leader Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer: As the oldest nursing organization in the United States, the National League for Nursing (NLN) looks forward to working with you as Congress considers changes to the nation’s complex health care system. The NLN promotes excellence in nursing education to build a strong and diverse nursing workforce to advance the health of the nation and the global community. The League represents more than 1,200 nursing schools, 40,000 members, and 25 regional constituent leagues. The expertise of the NLN lies in all matters related to preparing nurses for diverse roles to deliver patient centered health care in response to the human condition. Unlike other nursing education organizations, our membership includes faculty and staff in all types of nursing programs—from the licensed vocational/practical nurse programs, associate degree and baccalaureate programs, master’s degree into advanced practice specialties and doctoral education. For more than a decade, the NLN has been the expert in transforming simulation as a teaching methodology to prepare nurses for practice across the continuum of care in today’s complex health care environment. That experience reinforced by the League’s mission and core values furnishes a strong foundation to address the challenges and opportunities arising from the use of simulation in nursing education. We have evidence based research to support such work as well as other nursing education research. Our knowledge and participation in creating this future for health can assist you as you consider a wide range of reform issues related to the health system, the patient, caregivers, and the community. Nursing brings a steadfast commitment to patient care, and the unique ability to partner with the other health professions to ensure quality, safety and access to care for all of our nation’s patients in all settings where care is delivered. Because of its unique proximity to patients and its deep roots in the art and science of care processes, nursing

www.nln.org 800-669-1656 | 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20037

can help to address many of the seemingly intractable problems of cost and access to quality health care from rural to inner city America. The NLN stands ready share our expertise to assist you and your staff to evaluate and consider changes to how health care is accessed and delivered in the United States. Specifically we strongly urge you to consider the following concepts as you revise policies and restructure the health care system: Access • Equitable access to affordable comprehensive health and wellness care across the lifespan of patients and caregivers through the enhancement of services by local community health centers, neighborhood clinics, and nurse managed clinics. This includes all care for health conditions, behavioral health, and substance abuse disorders. • Provide affordable health insurance for the uninsured and underinsured as well as the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for children. • Provide interdisciplinary teams to deliver care, with an emphasis on maximizing the contribution of all health care providers (including nurses) who are instrumental to the delivery of high quality care. • Ensure all nurses practice to the full extent of their education, license, and clinical training. • Preserve health profession provider non-discrimination policies in the health care system. • Ensure access to all qualified health providers in provider networks. Diversity • Maximize education funding for nurses who commit to practice in rural and underserved areas. • Strengthen existing incentives to increase the participation of underrepresented minorities and the financially disadvantaged in nursing and nursing education. Workforce Development • Support funding for nursing programs that improve the nursing and nurse educator workforce. • Promote research and the use of evidence-based policy strategies for safe, high quality, and cost-effective health care capacity-building. • Support data collection and analysis for timely and evidence-based nurse and nurse educator workforce planning. • Recognize and reimburse nursing care in a manner consistent with other health professions. The League understands that this is a time of great opportunity and complexity in the nation’s health care environment. Collaboration creates meaningful outcomes and the NLN welcomes the opportunity for further conversation with you and your staff. If you should need further information please contact Christine Murphy, the NLN’s director of public policy and advocacy, at [email protected] or 202-909-2533.


Sincerely,

Anne R. Bavier, PhD, RN, FAAN President CC:

Beverly Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN Chief Executive Officer

The Honorable Greg Walden The Honorable Frank Pallone The Honorable Kevin Brady The Honorable Richard Neal The Honorable Virginia Foxx The Honorable Bobby Scott The Honorable Orrin Hatch The Honorable Ron Wyden The Honorable Lamar Alexander The Honorable Patty Murray
