December 14: The Academy along with other organizations representing Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) and advanced practice nursing education, sent a letter to the Director and Chief Medical Officer for the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding regulatory waivers issued during the public health emergency that have enabled APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education and clinical training. Read more.
December 13: The Academy has joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations challenging the state of Arkansas's legislation limiting access to gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of eighteen. Read more.
December 11: The Academy has joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations related to an appeal of the May 12 amicus brief in the state of Kentucky regarding their legislation limiting access to gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of eighteen. Read more.
November 16: The Academy has joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations related to an appeal of the June 9 amicus brief in the state of Oklahoma regarding their legislation limiting access to gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of eighteen. Read more.
November 13: The Academy, along with 62 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter to Congressional Leadership, as well as to House and Senate Appropriations Committees, requesting at least $302.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $197.693 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) in fiscal year (FY) 2024, as outlined in the Senate Appropriations Committee passed bill. Read more.
November 6: The Academy submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed rule on Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting. The Academy's comments highlighted considerations for improving the registered nurse (RN) on-site requirement, establishing nurse staffing standards, transparency of Medicaid nursing home information, and provisions on strengthening facility assessment requirements. The Academy’s Aging Expert Panel contributed to the development of this comment letter. Read more.
November 3: The Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS) and the Academy sent a letter to the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) regarding their request for information on advancing nursing research in climate and health. The Academy's Environmental & Public Health Expert Panel and the CANS Science Committee contributed to the development of the response. Read more.
October 18: The Academy, along with other APRN organizations, sent a letter to the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury, in response to a request for information regarding the promulgation of a regulation on provider nondiscrimination (2706(a) of the Public Health Service Act). Read more.
October 16: The Academy, along with 57 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), joined a letter to Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Brian Higgins (D-NY-26), Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), and Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), thanking them for introducing the bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2023 (H.R.5080). Read more.
October 13: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations in support of a challenge to the decision by the Florida Medical Board to restrict access to gender-affirming care for adolescents. Read more.
October 10: The Academy, along with 61 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), joined a letter thanking Senate Nursing Caucus Co-Chair, Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), for introducing the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act (S.2418). Read more.
September 26: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations challenging the state of Indiana's legislation limiting access to gender-affirming care to those under the age of 18. Read more.
September 18: The Academy, along with 47 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), joined a statement for record for the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health hearing, “VA’s Federal Supremacy Initiative: Putting Veterans First?” The statement urged support for removing barriers to practice and allowing Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to practice to the full extent of their education and abilities within the VA. Read more.
September 11: The Academy submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed rule on the calendar year (CY) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). The Academy's comments highlighted considerations for the proposed caregiver training services, social determinants of health risk assessment, and provisions on telehealth services. Read more.
September 11: The Academy, along with 9 other members of the APRN Workgroup, joined a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed rule on the calendar year (CY) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). The APRN Workgroup's comments discussed telehealth, policies addressing social determinants of health, and updated billing codes. Read more.
September 11: The Academy, along with 59 other health care organizations, joined a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the proposed rule on the calendar year (CY) 2024 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS). The comments offered support for the proposal to pay for caregiver training services in the PFS. Read more.
August 11: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations challenging the state of Texas's legislation limiting access to gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of eighteen. Read more.
August 10: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations challenging the state of Tennessee's legislation limiting access to gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of eighteen. Read more.
August 1: The Academy, along with 50 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), sent a letter to Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) thanking them for introducing the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act (H.R.3305/S.1606). The Momnibus Act provides a multipronged approach to addressing maternal health in the United States and improving maternal health outcomes, particularly among Black mothers. Read more.
July 25: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations challenging the state of Idaho's legislation limiting access to gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of eighteen. Read more.
July 24: The Academy, along with 55 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), joined a letter to Sen. Jeff Merkley and a bipartisan group of 11 cosponsors thanking them for introducing the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act (S.1446). This bill aims for parity between the Nurse Corps and other federal programs such as the National Health Service Corps by ensuring that the Nurse Corps is not subject to federal taxes. Read more.
July 3: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations challenging the state of Georgia's legislation limiting access to gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of eighteen. Read more.
June 28: The Academy, along with fifty-nine members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), joined a letter to Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Mike Lawler, along with a bipartisan group of 21 original cosponsors, thanking them for introducing the United States Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2023 (S.1633/ H.R. 3428). Read more.
June 23: The Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS) and the Academy sent a letter to the NIH Center for Scientific Review regarding the proposed changes to the peer review process for the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) fellowship applications. Read more.
June 20: The Academy, along with fifty-eight members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), signed onto a letter thanking Congressional leaders for introducing the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act (H.R. 2713). Read more.
June 16: The Academy, along with fifty-five members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), signed onto a letter thanking Congressional leaders for introducing the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R.2663/S.1176). Read more.
June 16: The Academy submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights regarding the HIPAA Privacy Rule To Support Reproductive Health Care Privacy proposed rule. The proposed rule would strengthen protections for persons seeking, obtaining, providing, or facilitating reproductive health care that is lawful under the circumstances in which it is provided by prohibiting disclosures of protected health information (PHI) for criminal, civil, or administrative investigations or proceedings against individuals for such care. Fellows from the Expert Panels on Bioethics; Child, Adolescent, and Family; Informatics and Technology; Trauma and Violence; and Women’s Health contributed to the development of these comments. Read more.
June 12: The Academy, along with fifty-four members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), joined a letter thanking Congressional leaders for introducing the National Nursing Workforce Center Act of 2023 (H.R.2411/S.1150). This legislation would offer an important step forward to collect additional data on needs within the nursing workforce. Read more.
June 9: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations challenging the state of Oklahoma's legislation limiting access to gender-affirming care to individuals under the age of eighteen. Read more.
June 6: The Academy signed onto a letter to the leaders of the House Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce urging the passage of the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act (H.R. 2713). This bill would increase patient access to care by removing federal barriers to services provided by advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. Read more.
May 18: The Academy signed onto a letter thanking President Biden for prioritizing efforts to support family caregivers through Executive Order 14095 and urging him to turn the 2022 National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers from the bipartisan RAISE Family Caregivers Act (H.R.3759/S.1028) into meaningful action by ensuring federal agencies follow through on their commitments. Read more.
May 12: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations challenging the state of Kentucky’s legislation removing access to gender-affirming care. Read more.
May 8: The Academy, along with members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a letter urging Congress to take action on top appropriations and legislative priorities that impact nursing education, workforce, practice, and research. Read more.
May 4: The Academy, along with members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a letter to Members of Congress commending their support of S.131/H.R. 618, the Improving Access to Workers Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act. This bipartisan legislation would retire outdated barriers in the Federal Employees Compensation Act (FECA) that limit the ability of NPs to provide care and treatment for injured or ill federal employees. Read more.
May 1: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other health care organizations supporting the appeal of the District Court in Texas ruling of Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA. The district court ruling would prevent the distribution of mifepristone around the country. Read more.
April 28: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics and other health care organizations in support of a challenge to a Florida Medicaid rule limiting access to gender-affirming medical care. The rule denies Medicaid recipients in Florida with gender dysphoria access to evidence-based treatments designed to improve health outcomes and alleviate suffering. Read more.
April 23: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics and other health care organizations in support of a challenge to the decision by the Florida Medical Board to restrict access to gender-affirming care for adolescents. Read more.
April 19: The Academy signed onto letters to the House and Senate Appropriations leaders asking them to provide $35 million for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), $25 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and $1 million for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to conduct public health research into firearm morbidity and mortality prevention in fiscal year 2024. Read more.
April 14: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other health care organizations to the United States Supreme Court that would prevent the District Court in Texas decision on Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA from being enforced as the court case moved through the legal system. Read more.
April 11: The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and other health care organizations supporting the appeal of the District Court ruling of Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA. The district court ruling would prevent the distribution of mifepristone around the country. Mifepristone is a drug approved by the FDA over two decades ago for use in reproductive care. Should the ruling be upheld, it could set up future challenges to FDA’s scientific and evidence-based process for drug approval. Read more.
April 10: The Academy joined a letter to Congress recommending $20 million in funding for FY 2024 for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program. Read more.
April 4: The Academy, along with members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto written testimony submitted to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies. The testimony featured funding requests of at least $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2024. Read more.
April 3: The Academy, along with seven members of the APRN Workgroup, sent a letter to the U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services (HHS), Labor (DOL), and Treasury (USDT) urging them to begin the rulemaking process on section 2706(a) of the Public Health Service Act. Section 2706 prohibits private health plans from discriminating against qualified licensed healthcare professionals based on their licensure. Without an enforceable rule in place, discrimination against health care providers will continue to occur. Read more.
March 31: The Academy, along with eleven members of the APRN Workgroup, sent a letter to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) requesting the regulatory waivers in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency be made permanent. These waivers not only have enabled APRNs to practice at the top of their licensure but also align with the six strategic pillars in CMS’s strategic plan. The letter requested the agency provide evidence for not extending the listed specific waivers. Read more.
March 31: The Academy, along with eleven members of the APRN Workgroup, sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) requesting the regulatory waivers in place during the COVID-19 public health emergency be made permanent. These waivers not only have enabled APRNs to practice at the top of their licensure but also strengthened the health care workforce and improved health equity. The letter requested HHS provide evidence for not extending the listed specific waivers. Read more.
March 31: The Academy, along with members of the APRN Workgroup submitted comments in response to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed rule; Telemedicine Prescribing of Controlled Substances When the Practitioner and the Patient Have Not Had a Prior In-Person Medical Evaluation (88 Fed. Reg. 12875, March 1, 2023). Issues discussed in the letter include telemedicine, workforce shortage, in-person visits, prescriptions, mid-level practitioners, and buprenorphine. Read more.
March 31: The Academy, along with members of the APRN Workgroup submitted comments in response to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) proposed rule; Expansion of Induction of Buprenorphine via Telemedicine Encounter (88 Fed. Reg. 12890, March 1, 2023). The proposed rule provides requirements to check the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) prior to issuance of a prescription, 30-day limitations, in-person requirements for follow-up appointments, and more detailed requirements for record-keeping are expected to minimize the diversion of buprenorphine via telemedicine, including audio-only telemedicine. Read more.
March 29: The Academy submitted comments in response to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s request for information regarding the reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA). The comments highlight recommendations on improving disease surveillance, state and federal stockpiles, streamlining coordination during emergencies, and making permanent the telehealth waivers implemented during the COVID-19 public health emergency. The Academy's Expert Panels on Environmental & Public Health; Bioethics; Child, Adolescent and Family; and Health Equity assisted in the development of the comments. Read more.
March 24: The Academy, along with 121 organizations, joined a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) requesting they fully fund the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program at its $100 million authorization level and provide $50 million to launch the new Bio-Preparedness Workforce Pilot Program. Read more.
March 23: The Academy, along with sixty-five health organizations, joined a letter to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) requesting funding for family planning, teen pregnancy prevention, and sexually transmitted infection programs in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. Read more.
March 20: The Academy, along with sixty-three members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) submitted comments in response to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s request for information on current health care workforce issues, outlining current realities and proposals to ensure nurses may continue to provide high-quality health care to all communities. Read more.
March 20: The Academy, along with eleven members of the APRN Workgroup submitted comments in response to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s request for information on current health care workforce issues, examining the important lessons from the pandemic and considering how to move forward. Read more.
March 20: The Academy sent comments to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee with recommendations on how to remedy current nursing and health care workforce shortages with policy solutions. Some of the recommendations in the letter included removing barriers to the advanced practice registered nursing (APRN) workforce and supporting the current and future nursing workforce through investment in workforce development, increasing data collection for enhanced solutions, and addressing workplace violence. Read more.
March 16: The Academy, along with members of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, joined letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) requesting an increase in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Office on Smoking and Health (OSH). This increase would help OSH respond to high rates of e-cigarette use among youth and the devastating toll that tobacco continues to take on our nation’s health. Read the House and Senate letters.
March 9: The Academy, along with members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), sent a letter to the House and Senate Leaders urging Congress to take legislative action to make the various waivers in place during the Public Health Emergency (PHE) permanent so nurses and Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs) can continue to provide high-quality health care to patients in all communities, including in rural and underserved areas. Read more.
March 8: The Academy, along with 150 other health care organizations, joined a letter to appropriations leaders requesting $500 million in funding for the Agency for Healthcare and Research and Quality (AHRQ) for fiscal year (FY) 2024. This request reflects an inflation adjustment and the demonstrated need to expand and accelerate investments to inform decision-making on the health care system as it recovers from the pandemic. Read more.
March 6: The Academy, along with fifty-three members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), joined a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) requesting at least $530 million for Nursing Workforce Development Programs (Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act [42 U.S.C. 296 et seq.]) and at least $210 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR, National Institutes of Health) in Fiscal Year (FY) 2024. Read more.
March 6: The Academy submitted comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regarding the Safeguarding the Rights of Conscience as Protected by Federal Statutes proposed rule. The proposed rule would restore the longstanding process for handling conscience complaints and provide additional safeguards to protect patients and providers against conscience and religious discrimination. Read more.
March 6: The Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science (CANS) and the Academy sent a letter to the NIH Center for Scientific Review regarding their proposed revised simplified review framework for research project grant applications. Read more.
February 21: The Academy, along with members of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, signed onto letters to the House and Senate in support of the proposed rules prohibiting menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. Read the House and Senate letters.
February 13: The Academy joined a letter from the US Breastfeeding Committee to Congress urging them to prioritize breastfeeding and human milk feeding during this congressional session. Issues discussed in the letter include federal funding for breastfeeding; infant nutrition security; access to lactation support and supplies; workplace protections; and maternity care. Read more.
February 10: The Academy submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the Medicare Program; Contract Year 2024 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program and PACE proposed rule. The proposed rule would strengthen Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage for the tens of millions of people who rely on the programs for health care coverage, improve protections for people with Medicare, expand access to behavioral health care, promote equity in coverage and make prescriptions drugs more affordable for low-income individuals. Read more.
February 10: The Academy submitted comments to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) regarding the 42 CFR Part 8 Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder proposed rule. The proposed rule plans to expand access to treatment for opioid use disorders and address longstanding barriers to treatment in regulations. Read more.
Previous Policy Actions
2024 Policy Actions
View the Academy's 2024 policy sign-on letters, comments, and amici briefs.
