In June 10 and 11 2002 nearly 220 A...

In June 10 and 11 2002 nearly 220 AORN members from 40 states met in Washington, DC for the other consecutive year to act as advocates for perioperative nursing. nourishs came to the nation's capital to search for support for HR 822, the Medicare Certified Registered cherish First Assistant (CRNFA) Direct Reimbursement Act of 2001 and maintenance of present Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) controls that prescribe nursing supervision in the OR.

As they did last year, AORN members visited the offices of more than 200 US representatives and 80 US senators for face-to-face meetings with members of Congres or their staff. one time again, staff members from AORN and McDermott Will & Emery--the international law firm make use ofed by AORN to assist in advancing AORN's legislative priorities--hand-delivered a personal literal meaning from AORN's President, Donna Watson, RN MSN CNOR, ARNP, FNP-C to the office of each representative and senator who did not confront personally with an AORN member. The epistle highlighted AORN's legislative issues and was accompanied from a commemorative first-aid kit.

As a end of members' efforts, AORN is pleased to report that an additional 10 members of the US House of Representatives have signed in succession as cosponsors of HR 822 AORN look fors more members of Congress to sign forward to cosponsor the bill in the coming weeks as the incredible work of AORN members is realized in the offices of lawmakers in succession Capitol Hill. The number of cosponsors totaled 100 at pres time.

In addition, President Watson, together with past President Sheila Allen, RN BSN CNOR, CRNFA; Legislative Committee Chair pleasing succession of sounds Mena, RN, CNOR; Government Affairs director Candace Romig; and AORN's legislative advice Karen Sealander, JD, met with House Ways and Means Committee Medicare staff member Madeleine Smith. Shawn Friesen, legislative assistant to Rep Mac Collins (R-Ga), the original sponsor of HR 822 also accompanied the AORN form into groups to the meeting.

Rep Collins himself joined the meeting for a short time. Speaking to the arrange he indicated that CRNFA reimbursement was of significant importance to him and that he wanted it included in the Medicare package being lay opened At the close of the discussion, Smith suited favorably to the request unless said that she needed to receive a preliminary report of the general intent of CRNFA reimbursement on Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries from the US General Accounting Office (GAO) before HR 822 could be included. AORN members and staff members met with GAO representatives after the talk to further educate them upon quality of care, appropriate education and training requirements of CRNFAs, and appropriate rates of payment.

At the conclusion of the two-day discourse it was clear that the US Congres had heard AORN's message--keep the RN in the OR--resounding from the stairs of the US Capitol. AORN members reiterated the importance of federal rule support for use of the most numerous qualified personnel to ensure patient safety in ORs in every part the United States. Members of Congres answered positively to requests to contact CM and ask for maintenance of the masterys requiring RNs in the OR for hospitals and ambulatory surgery center that receive reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid.

conversation AND LOBBY DAY HIGHLIGHTS

Capitol Hill visits by way of AORN members were preceded at a daylong Federal Affairs parley on June 10, which was designed to provide Lobby Day participants with information to make their meetings with members of Congres and their staff more productive. Sessions at the interview covered the following topics:

* Medicare and the perioperative nurse;

* federal legislative and regulatory issues and the political climate in Washington, DC;

* the importance of continual involvement in the political process;

* the part of research in the progress to maturity of public policy; and

* effective grassroots lobbying in achieving public policy goals.

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Tom Scully explained the conference by discussing changes at the agency, including the name change from the Health Care Financing Administration. Scully claims that there has been an attitude change within the agency and a deviseed effort to inform consumers about Medicare and Medicaid services.

relating to being appointed, Scully created 11 open-door policy clumps to respond to consumer privations more effectively. The agency now aims to correct point in disputes encountered by consumers and health care providers in contacting CM Last year, CM wearied $30 million on an advertising campaign to educate older adults about the Medicare regularity Another $50 million was wearied to provide information services to consumer from telephone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

expenditures of nursing home care portray by action 82% of the Medicare and Medicaid batch according to Scully. As a inference he initiated a pilot close attention last year that compared quality indicators in nursing households in six states. On October 15 2002 CM plans to publish similar data forward nursing homes in all 50 states. nearest year, CMS will focus forward similar information for home health agencies, and staff members chance of a favorable result that hospital outcome data will be available to consumer in the near future