APRN Ability to Certify Home Health Plans of Care
On Wednesday, June 16th in conjunction with the ANA House of Delegates and in-person Lobby Day in Washington DC, nurses from across the country were invited to take part in the ANA 2010 Virtual Lobby Day. One of the key issues for Lobby day was the ability of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses to certify home health plans of care.
The Home Health Planning and Improvement Act (H.R. 4993/S. 2814), introduced by Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) and Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Kent Conrad (D-ND), would allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) - nurse practitioners (NPs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), certified nurse midwives (CNMs), physician assistants (PAs) - to order home health services under Medicare in accordance with state law. Medicare has recognized the independent practice of APRNs for nearly two decades, and these health care professionals now provide the majority of skilled care to home health patients.
Unfortunately, a quirk in Medicare law has kept APRNs from signing home health plans of care and from certifying Medicare patients for the home health benefit. In areas where access to physicians is limited, this outdated prohibition has led to delays in health care delivery. Moreover, these delays in care inconvenience patients and their families. Additionally, delays can lead to increased cost to the Medicare system when patients are unnecessarily left in more expensive institutional settings.
While Lobby Day may have passed, you can still get involved and help support this act!
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