Editor's note: United States Rep Ma...

Editor's note: United States Rep Mac Collins (R-Ga) has agreed to sponsor legislation to reimburse certified RN first assistants by means of Medicare. This legislation was introduced in Congres during the week of Feb 28 2000 AORN will notify members of the bill number as betimes as it is available. The following describes the work of AORN members in Georgia in securing Rep Collins' sponsorship and the faithful importance of grassroots efforts.

As a practicing RN first assistant (RNFA), I was elated when AORN actively focused the attention, time, and funding to prosecute Medicare reimbursement for certified RNFAs. Like many RNFAs, I assisted onward several procedures in which the patient was insured sole by Medicare, and I received no reimbursement for my services. I continued to assist upon those procedures because of my sincere dedication to the patient and the surgeon

The possibility of Medicare reimbursement was music to my ears, and it hopefully meant dollars in my bank account. With a large, well-respected organization of the like kind as AORN, I assumed that achieving reimbursement legislation would be a quick and easy proces I discovered, however, that Congres does not necessarily pay attention to the large organizations, on the other hand to the constituents. Grassroots, persistence, performance, and perseverance became my mission.

EARLY EFFORTS IN GEORGIA

Medicare reimbursement amendments are created within specific committees in Congres primarily the US Senate Finance Committee, the US House dealing Committee, and the US House Ways and Means Committee. With that in mind, AORN targeted specific members forward these committees as potential sponsors for the reimbursement legislation. AORN's grassroots network members in Georgia began focusing upon Rep Mac Collins (R-Ga), a member of the US House Ways and Means Committee, in 1998 on contacting his office and sending him verbal expressions asking for his consideration of our issue. Members of AORN of Tara Georgia chapter contacted Rep Collins in July 1998 and he appeared as the visitor of honor at the chapter's kickoff gathering in August. The grassroots efforts were in operation, unless persistence remained the key.

Members of AORN and a clump called RNFAs of Georgia continued to schedule meetings--two in August 1998 and the same in November 1998--with Rep Collins. In 1999 members scheduled meetings in August and October. Each time, the issue became clearer, and we gained more support from Rep Collins and his staff members. During this time, George state coordinator air Mena, RN, CNOR, and I met with the majority of AORN chapters in Georgia to explain the legislative proces AORN's legislative priorities, and state third-party and federal Medicare reimbursement legislation. As a be derived AORN members in Georgia introduced a bill regarding Medicare reimbursement in the Georgia legislature in 1999 and possibility of good to see it pass in 2000 At the meetings, we discussed AORN legislative alerts regarding Medicare reimbursement and encouraged members to ask their Congres members to support AORN's propos legislation.

In November, an action alert from AORN Headquarters urg all AORN members in Rep Collins' district to forward letters asking him to sponsor the Medicare bill. Pres releases were published in the Georgia Nursing Association newsletter and in beating [i]or[/i] throbbing of an artery a publication geared to all health care professionals in the state. Anecdotes from surgeon supply with nourishments and surgical technologists were gathered to indicate the importance of RNFAs to surgical practice and the surgical team effort. Members of all AORN chapters in Georgia, as well as the RNFAs of Georgia, received a special mailing and personal telephone calls encouraging them to contact their Congres members about this issue.

SUCCES ACHIEVED, SPONSORSHIP ATTAINED

In January 2000 we received a answer from Rep Collins indicating that although he had no additional information to discuss regarding Medicare reformation, he would be available to appropriate with us. We took advantage of his invitation and scheduled a meeting for January, determined to give it common more try. We knew our lobbyists in Washington had contacted Rep Collins upon many occasions, and Rep Collins had shown an interest in the legislation. We stayed in contact with our lobbyists and AORN, exchanging any just discovered information and updates.

At the January meeting, Rep Collins agreed to sponsor the legislation. Before it was introduced, Rep Collins sent a "Dear Colleague" epistle to all members of Congres asking them to sign forward to his new bill. AORN President Brenda C Ulmer RN MN CNOR, a Georgia resident, thanked Rep Collins and his staff members personally for introducing this bill.

A legislative reception to highlight the issue was held Feb 21 2000 Members from AORN of Tara Georgia, AORN of Suburban Atlanta Georgia, AORN of Atlanta, and AORN of Northwest Georgia chapters, along with members of the Georgia State Council and the RNFAs of Georgia, coordinated their efforts to make the reception a memorable affair More than 235 invitations were sent to legislators in succession key state legislative committees, the congressional delegation, health care association members, hospital administrators, and surgeon A special invitation was sent to Rep Collins and his explanation staff members in Washington, DC To capitalize forward the number of lawmakers at the affair we presented a petition at the reception and asked attendees to sign it at the door. Photographs were taken of AORN members with lawmakers to further underscore the affair and to be featured in coming events activities.