Health Policy & Advocacy
Historical Sign-On Letters
2022 Sign-On Letters
Letters to House and Senate Committee Leadership Urging Passage of the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act
DECEMBER 16, 2022
Along with the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, APHON sent letters to the leadership of the Senate Committee on Finance and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to ask for passage of the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act before the end of the 117th Congress.
Thank You Letters to Nursing Champions Retiring from Congress
DECEMBER 6, 2022
APHON and 62 additional organizations in the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent thank you letters to nursing champions in Congress who are retiring or leaving Capitol Hill at the end of this year, including: Reps. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA-40), Rodney Davis (R-IL-13), Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), and David McKinley (R-WV-01), as well as Debbie Jessup, a nurse and congressional staffer for Rep. Roybal-Allard.
Letter to House and Senate Leadership Outlining NCC Legislative Priorities for Passage Before End of 117th Congress
DECEMBER 2, 2022
APHON joined with 61 other organizations in the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in urging Congress to pass top legislative priorities addressing the needs of nursing education, practice, and research before the end of the 117th Congress.
Letter to House and Senate Leadership Urging Inclusion of PCHETA in End-of-Year Package
NOVEMBER 29, 2022
APHON joined with the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) to ask House and Senate Leadership to include the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) in an end of the year package.
Letter to Senate Leadership Urging Passage of Legislation to Stop Workplace Violence
NOVEMBER 18, 2022
As part of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), APHON joined 57 other organizations asking Senate leadership to pass the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.
Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committees Outline Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Requests
NOVEMBER 15, 2022
APHON and 61 other member organizations of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), signed onto a letter to both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to again request at least $324.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $208.571 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Omnibus.
Letter to Senate and House Leadership in Support of the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act
NOVEMBER 17, 2022
APHON and 49 other organizations signed onto a letter supporting the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act and requesting that it be included in any year-end health care package. This bill would direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to create a demonstration program in up to 10 states to improve access to comprehensive, high-quality outpatient care, including recommended clinical, mental health, ancillary, and support services, for individuals enrolled in Medicaid with SCD.
Letters to the House and Senate Co-Sponsors of the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Reauthorization Act
OCTOBER 31, 2022
As part of the CAC2 Coalition, APHON signed onto two letters to the House and Senate Sponsors of the Childhood Cancer STAR Reauthorization Act, urging to pass this pill and reauthorize the program for an additional 5 years. The STAR Act expands opportunities for childhood cancer research, improves efforts to identify and track childhood cancer incidences, and enhances the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors. Originally signed into law in 2018, the STAR Act has authorized $30 million in federal funding each year for these programs.
Letter to the House Nursing Caucus Co-Chairs Thanking them for Introducing the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act
OCTOBER 26, 2022
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition to endorse the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act, which would help to remove barriers in Medicare and Medicaid that prevent APRNs from practicing to the full extent of their education and clinical training. Removing these barriers would increase patients’ timely access to care from the provider of their choice.
Letter to House and Senate Leadership Urging Pass of Nursing Community Coalition Priorities
SEPTEMBER 26, 2022
Along with 61 other members of the Nursing Community Coalition, APHON signed onto a letter requesting that specific priorities that impact the nursing workforce be passed before the end of the year. These include the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act, the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act, and supporting the mental health, health working environments, and safety measures for the current and future nursing workforce.
Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committees Supporting Nursing Community Coalition Funding Priorities
SEPTEMBER 15, 2022
APHON supported the Nursing Community Coalitions request for least $324.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce and Development Programs and at least $208.571 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.
Letter in Support of Sickle Cell Disease Quality Measures
SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
APHON joined the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the American Heart Association in encouraging the inclusion of two National Quality Forum (NQF) endorsed measures for sickle cell disease (SCD) screening in the Medicaid Child Core Measure Set.
Letter to Senate Finance and House Energy and Commerce in Support of the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act
SEPTEMBER 8, 2022
APHON joined the National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD) and 109 other organizations in supporting the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act. This bill would reduce regulatory burdens in the Medicaid program to allow children with complex medical needs greater access to out-of-state providers who can best meet their needs by creating an alternative opt-in pathway for providers to enroll in multiple state Medicaid programs.
Letter to House Sponsors in Endorsing the Clinical Trial Coverage Act of 2022
SEPTEMBER 1, 2022
APHON joined the Alliance for Childhood Cancer in endorsing the Clinical Trial Coverage Act of 2022, which would reduce this financial barrier for families by requiring insurers to cover out-of-network routine care for a clinical trial if the provider operating the trial is not in network. Reducing this barrier will increase access for children to participate in clinical trials, which will advance better treatments and outcomes for patients with childhood cancer.
2021 Sign-On Letters
Letter to Senators Outlining Shared NCC Build Back Better Act Priorities, Including the FAAN Act
DECEMBER 2, 2021
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) letter strongly urging the Senate to preserve shared nursing priorities, including support for nursing education pathways such as the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act in the Build Back Better Act.
Sickle Cell Disease Partner Letter to Champions in Congress
SEPTEMBER 29, 2021
APHON joined the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology (ASPHO), and other sickle cell disease (SCD) partners and sent a letter to Representatives Danny Davis (D-IL-7) and Michael Burgess, MD, (R-TX-26) and Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) to advocate for the development of a Medicaid demonstration project focused on SCD.
APHON and PQLC Send Letter to House and Senate Leaders on PCHETA
SEPTEMBER 15, 2021
APHON signed on the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) letter to House and Senate leaders supporting the request from Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Representative Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY-9) to support the bipartisan Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA). The letter encourages Congress to use PCHETA as a model to grow, improve, and sustain the palliative care and hospice workforce in the upcoming reconciliation package.
APHON Meets with the Biden-Harris Administration and Provides Input to the NIH on ARPA-H
AUGUST 23, 2021
APHON and the Alliance for Childhood Cancer met with the Biden-Harris Administration to discuss the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) as it is being developed. ARPA-H would be a new agency intended to drive transformational innovation in biomedical research that has been proposed by President Joe Biden. In addition to the meeting, APHON provided specific input to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as well.
APHON Sends Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 Endorsement Letter to Senate
JULY 7, 2021
APHON and the Alliance for Childhood Cancer continued their support for the bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 and sent an endorsement letter to the Senate. The letter thanked Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Mark Warner (D-VA), and Jerry Moran (R-KS) and emphasized the importance of authorizing continued resources to improve childhood cancer treatments.
APHON Contributes to Letter to Congress on Home and Community-Based Services
APRIL 26, 2021
In response to a request from the Senate Aging Committee, APHON contributed to a letter with the Patient Quality of Life Coalition to leaders in Congress regarding stakeholder input on a draft of the Home and Community-Based Services Access Act. The act would ensure Medicaid can provide critical services, creating national requirements for home and community-based services, and make it possible to enhance those services and the long-term care workforce.
APHON and PQLC Send PCHETA Letter to Senate HELP Committee
APRIL 9, 2021
APHON signed on to the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) letter requesting that the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) be included in the workforce package being developed by the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee.
APHON Endorses the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0
MARCH 31, 2021
APHON and the Alliance for Childhood Cancer endorsed the bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act 2.0 and sent a letter thanking Representatives Jennifer Wexton (D-VA-10), Tom Cole (R-OK-04), Peter Welch (D-VT-At Large), and Gus Bilirakis (R-FL-12) for introducing the legislation. The bill would redirect penalties collected from pharmaceutical, cosmetic, food supplement, and medical device companies that break the law and use the money to fund critical rare pediatric disease research.
APHON Endorses the RISE Act
MARCH 15, 2021
APHON signed on to the Alliance for Childhood Cancer letter supporting the Research Investment to Spark the Economy (RISE) Act.
APHON Reiterates COVID-19 Priorities Including the FAAN Act
FEBRUARY 25, 2021
APHON signed on to the Nursing Community Coalition letter to Congress reiterating COVID-19 priorities, which includes additional nursing education infrastructure through the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act.
APHON Welcomes 117th Congress
JANUARY 29, 2021
With the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), APHON sent letters to the Senate and House welcoming the 117th Congress and outlining our shared priorities to combat COVID-19, invest in Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs, and support nursing research.
APHON and NCC Congratulate Chairwoman DeLauro on her Leadership of the House Appropriations Committee
JANUARY 29, 2021
APHON signed on to the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) letter congratulating Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) on her election as House Appropriations Committee Chair and looks forward to working with her again on issues relevant to nursing and healthcare.
APHON and NCC Urge House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to Advance the US Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021
Fifty-three members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) signed onto a letter to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee urging them to support and advance the US Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act of 2021.
Letter Published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Addressing the Unequal Impact of New Georgia Voter Law
AUGUST 26, 2021
APHON published a letter in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution with the American Society of Hematology (ASH), the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA), and 14 other major health organizations highlighting the impact of recently enacted voting restrictions in Georgia, which are expected to disproportionately affect minority communities.
APHON Named as Endorser of US Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act in Senate Press Release
MAY 28, 2021
Senators Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) recently reintroduced the US Cadet Nurse Corps Service Recognition Act, a bill that honors women who served in the US Cadet Nurse Corps during WWII with honorary veteran status. We are proud to share that APHON was named as an endorser, alongside several other nursing organizations, in a press release announcing the reintroduction of the bill. APHON has endorsed this bill since last Congress.
In addition, APHON signed on to Nursing Community Coalition letters to Senator Warren and Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL-17) and a bipartisan group of 40 original cosponsors thanking them for reintroducing the act in the Senate and House.
Leading Cancer Organizations Endorse Goal of Resuming Cancer Screening and Treatment during the COVID-19 Pandemic
JANUARY 28, 2021
APHON is teaming up with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), the American Cancer Society (ACS), and other leading cancer organizations and cancer centers across the country to endorse the resumption of cancer screening and treatment during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
APHON and PQLC Send Letters to the NINR and NIH to Advocate for Palliative Care
DECEMBER 13, 2021
APHON signed on to two letters with the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) in an effort to get the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) to reconsider and keep palliative care as a strategic priority in the NINR 2022-2026 Strategic Plan. One letter was in direct response to the NINR’s request for feedback from the public and the other was a letter to Francis S. Collins, MD PhD, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director
CDC Letter on LDTs with AACC
NOVEMBER 2, 2021
APHON signed on to the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on the regulation of laboratory-developed tests (LDTs), including pediatric LDTs.
Senate Resolution on DIPG Awareness Day
AUGUST 23, 2021
APHON and the Alliance for Childhood Cancer sent a letter thanking Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Jack Reed (D-RI) for introducing and working to pass the Senate resolution to designate May 17 as DIPG Awareness Day. This raises awareness and encourages research into cures for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and pediatric cancers in general.
Congratulations to the CMS Administrator
JUNE 21, 2021
The Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a congratulations letter to Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, who was confirmed as the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
APHON Joins AACR in Sending Letter Supporting National Cancer Research Month
MAY 27, 2021
APHON signed on to American Association for Cancer Research’s (AACR) letter thanking Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) for their resolution recognizing May as National Cancer Research Month. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the National Cancer Act of 1971.
APHON and NCC Submits Testimony to House Appropriations Subcommittee
MAY 6, 2021
APHON signed on to the Nursing Community Coalition’s (NCC) written testimony submitted to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED). The testimony featured the coalition’s funding requests of $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $193 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) for FY 2022.
APHON, LLS, and Over 100 Health Organizations Send CAPs Letter to Congressional Health Leaders
APRIL 26, 2021
APHON and over 100 health organizations joined in sending a letter organized by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) to leaders on the Senate and House Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) supporting Consumer Assistance Programs (CAPs). Established under the Affordable Care Act, CAPs help consumers handle problems with their health insurance to increase insurance coverage and expand access to care.
APHON and the Alliance Send Letters to Congress Supporting PRCRP at the DOD
APRIL 14, 2021
APHON continued its support for the Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) at the Department of Defense (DOD) through the Alliance for Childhood Cancer (Alliance).
APHON and the Alliance Send Letters to Congress Supporting Vital NIH and NCI Funding, Including the Childhood Cancer STAR Act and CCDI
APRIL 14, 2021
APHON continued its support for vital National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Cancer Institute (NCI) funding through the Alliance for Childhood Cancer (Alliance). This support includes advocating for full funding for the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act at $30 million and the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative (CCDI) at $50 million in FY 2022.
APHON Supports Federal Sickle Cell Disease Programs
MARCH 19, 2021
APHON has joined the American Society of Hematology and other fellow Sickle Cell Disease Coalition organizations in signing on to a letter to Congress requesting funding for federal sickle cell disease programs at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Health Resources and Services Administration.
APHON Urges House and Senate Subcommittees on LHHS-ED to Fund Title VIII and NINR
MARCH 16, 2021
APHON signed on to the Nursing Community Coalition letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS-ED) outlining the funding request levels of $530 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $193 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) for FY 2022.
APHON Supports Funding for Pediatric Reference Intervals
FEBRUARY 17, 2021
APHON signed on to a letter led by the American Association for Clinical Chemistry which supports funding to help generate pediatric reference intervals from existing clinical samples at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2020 Sign-On Letters
Sign-On letters are policy-oriented letters sent to members of Congress, congressional committees or federal agencies expressing the viewpoint of the signatories.
APHON and CIACC Send Biden-Harris Transition Letter
DECEMBER 7, 2020
APHON joined a transition letter from the Coalition to Improve Access to Cancer Care (CIACC) to the Biden-Harris Administration, which introduces the coalition and the oral parity issue and highlights the importance of oral anticancer treatments, access to care, and the Cancer Drug Parity Act.
APHON Supports the STAR Act and the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative
NOVEMBER 24, 2020
The STAR Act and the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative were both included and fully funded in the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee FY 2021 draft bill. The House passed legislation fully funding both during the summer, and APHON joined this letter to the Senate and House to reiterate the need for full funding.
APHON Urges House and Senate to Fund CDC Sickle Cell Disease Data Collection Program
NOVEMBER 23, 2020
Following a congressional briefing that APHON participated in on sickle cell disease (SCD) hosted by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA), in conjunction with Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Michael Burgess (R-TX), APHON urged the House and Senate to fund the CDC’s Sickle Cell Disease Data Collection Program.
APHON Joins Title VIII and NINR House and Senate Appropriations Letter
NOVEMBER 20, 2020
APHON and the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter to the House and Senate appropriations committees requesting at least $269.972 for Title VIII Nursing Workforce and Development Programs and at least $177.976 for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) for FY 2021.
APHON and NCC Send Biden-Harris Transition Letter
NOVEMBER 13, 2020
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition’s (NCC) transition letter welcoming President-elect Joseph Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The letter underscores the importance of nurses in policy discussions and the role of nurses on the transition team, specifically the COVID-19 taskforce. The letter also reiterates funding requests for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).
APHON Joins Congressional Endorsement Letter for the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act
OCTOBER 27, 2020
APHON signed on to a congressional endorsement letter with the Alliance for Childhood Cancer for the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act. This legislation would ensure that all routine care costs of clinical trial participation are covered for Medicaid enrollees with life-threatening conditions, such as cancer.
APHON and NCC Urge Congressional Leaders to Support the FAAN Act
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
APHON and the Nursing Community Coalition urged congressional leaders to include the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act in the next COVID-19 package. The FAAN Act was introduced by nurses in Congress, Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), and Nursing Caucus Co-Chair Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
APHON, NCCN, ASH, and Others Support Funding for the WHO
SEPTEMBER 11, 2020
Following the July letter organized by NCCN urging the US to remain in the World Health Organization (WHO), APHON joined NCCN, ASH, ACS CAN, HOPA and others to support funding for the WHO. This letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and key committee members.
APHON Joins Letter Welcoming the New NINR Director, Dr. Shannon Zenk
AUGUST 31, 2020
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition’s letter welcoming the new National Institute of Nursing Research’s (NINR) Director, Dr. Shannon Zenk. This is part of APHON’s efforts to promote the work of nurse scientists and advocate for investments in research.
APHON and NCC Reiterate Importance of Title VIII and Other COVID-19 Priorities to Congress
AUGUST 18, 2020
APHON and the Nursing Community Coalition reiterated their shared priorities, including Title VIII, in a letter sent to House and Senate leadership and key congressional committees outlining priorities for any COVID-19 legislative package.
APHON Supports Rural Health and Telehealth Access to Oral Chemotherapy
AUGUST 14, 2020
Through CIACC, APHON joined the letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar urging HHS to consider oral chemotherapy access as they implement the Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access. This is particularly important as it is related to telehealth expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic.
APHON and CIACC Send Oral Parity and Pandemic Preparedness Letter to Senate HELP Committee Chairman
APHON, NCCN, ASCO, and Others Urge the President to Keep the US in the WHO
JULY 16, 2020
In mid-July, APHON, ASCO, ASH, HOPA, and others joined a letter organized by NCCN urging the president to reconsider the withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organization (WHO). This reinforces APHON’s support for the WHO, an organization that is foundational to cancer care. The letter expresses support for the bipartisan Global Hope Act, which passed the House and was introduced by Reps. McCaul (R-TX) and Engel (D-NY). The Global Hope Act supports the notion that the US should work to support the WHO Initiative for Childhood Cancer goals, which helps increase survival rates for children with cancer.
JUNE 26, 2020
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) in response to the Preparing for the Next Pandemic white paper. The letter advocates for the Cancer Drug Parity Act and oral chemotherapy and expanded access to care during COVID-19 and beyond in future pandemics and public health emergencies.
APHON Joins the Alliance for Childhood Cancer’s Creating Hope Reauthorization Act Letter to the Senate
JUNE 26, 2020
This Senate letter supports permanently reauthorizing the FDA priority review voucher program to incentivize pharmaceutical manufacturers to invest in drugs with indications for rare pediatric diseases through the Creating Hope Act Reauthorization Act.
APHON Sends Letter to Appropriators Reiterating FY 2021 Funding Request
JUNE 22, 2020
APHON signed on to the Nursing Community Coalition letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education reiterating our shared funding request of at least $278 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $182 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2021.
APHON Sends Funding Letters to House and Senate for DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program
JUNE 2020
Through the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, APHON sent funding letters to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense supporting the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP). The request includes an increase to $130 million for PRCRP and the continued inclusion of pediatric brain tumors and neuroblastoma as eligible topics of funding under the program.
APHON Contacts the White House for Nursing Mental Health During COVID-19
MAY 19, 2020
Several nursing organizations, including APHON and led by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, submitted a letter to the White House as a call to action for psychological first aid for nurses on the frontline of COVID-19 patient care. The letter was also shared with Health and Human Services and Congress, as well as state governors, as activating and deploying this aid, would require state action.
APHON Submits Testimony to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
APRIL 23, 2020
APHON joined sixty members of the Nursing Community Coalition and signed on to written testimony submitted to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony included funding requests of $278 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $182 million for the National Institute for Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2021.
APHON Joins the Alliance for Childhood Cancer’s FY21 NIH Appropriations Requests to House and Senate
MARCH 9, 2020
APHON signed on to the Alliance’s FY21 NIH appropriations requests, calling for increases in funding for medical research: $3 billion for the NIH and $500 million for the NCI. A request for $30 million to fund the initiatives set forth in the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act was included.
APHON Sends PRIs Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees
FEBRUARY 27, 2020
APHON joined with the American Association for Clinical Chemistry to support pediatric reference intervals (PRIs) with a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. It includes a recommendation that Congress provides the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Environmental Health Laboratory with an additional $10 million in FY 2021 to initiate and advance this essential work.
APHON Sends Letter to Congress Outlining Additional COVID-19 Priorities
APRIL 28, 2020
APHON and fellow Nursing Community Coalition members sent a letter to House and Senate leadership thanking them for their work to combat COVID-19 and outlining additional priorities for future COVID-19 legislation.
2019 Sign-On Letters
APHON Comments on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
SEPTEMBER 27, 2019
Through the Patient Quality of Life Coalition, APHON submitted comments on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. The comments were submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and provide a variety of recommendations in support of increasing access to palliative care services.
APHON Joins the Nursing Community Coalition Letter to Senate HELP Committee Urging Them to Advance Title VIII
SEPTEMBER 5, 2019
APHON joined all members of the NCC and signed on to a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee urging them to consider and advance Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2019 (S.1399).
APHON joined the Patient Quality of Life Coalition in commenting on the Pain Management Best Practices Draft Report
APRIL 2019
The overall comments focused on ensuring that pain management policies continued to address the opioid epidemic and to ensure patients with serious illnesses had access to pain medications
APHON sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
APRIL 2019
The letter commented on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies supporting $10 million in fiscal year 2020 to help generate pediatric reference intervals from existing clinical samples. This funding would help create a more standard reference interval for a more accurate diagnosis.
APHON Joins Comments To Address America’s Rising Health Care Costs
MARCH 2019
APHON joined the Patient Quality of Life Coalition in responding to the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s request for information on ways to address health care costs. PQLC supported efforts to increase access to palliative and hospice care services as a way to lower health care costs.
2018 Sign-On Letters
APHON Supports Access to Care
DECEMBER 2018
APHON joined a letter that supported H.R. 6836, the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act. This bill would require that Medicaid cover routine costs associated with participation in clinical trials.
American Academy of Nursing
FEBRUARY 2018
Position Statement from the American Academy of Nursing
APHON supported a position statement on full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses written by the American Academy of Nursing.
View press release and full position statement
Alliance for Childhood Cancer
MARCH 2018
APHON Supports Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition in asking the Department of Defense for funding for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program and encourage Congress to ultimately establish a separate program for young adult, adolescent, and pediatric cancers. Any new developments that result from this research program will affect providers and patients alike, changing the way that cancer is treated and how to provide survivorship care to cancer survivors.
APHON Supports Cancer Funding
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition in encouraging the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services to increase funding for various programs and institutes (National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute). Specifically, the letter asks for a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health plus a $215 million increase from 21st Century Cures funding for a total of over $38 billion and an over $400 million increase for the National Cancer Institute for a total of over $6.2 billion.
Nursing Community Coalition
NOVEMBER 2018
APHON Supports Title VIII Reauthorization
The Title VIII NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program, one of the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, was created to assist those nurses who are willing to work in the areas with critical staffing needs and depressed salaries. A last minute provision to add for-profit facilities to the program could put the entire program in jeopardy. APHON joined with the Nursing Community Coalition to support Title VIII Reauthorization as it currently stands.
JANUARY 2018
Title VIII Funding
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition in asking the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to fund each the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) with at least the levels proposed by the Senate’s Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee bill totaling $234.472 million for Title VIII programs and $155.210 million for NINR in FY 2018.
Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2017
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition in asking the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to make the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Authorization Act of 2017 (HR 959 and S 1109, respectively) a priority during the second session of the 115th Congress. Support for this would reauthorize Title VIII funding through 2020.
Sickle Cell Disease Coalition
FEBRUARY 2018
Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act (H.R. 2410)
APHON joined the Sickle Cell Disease Coalition to support the Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act (H.R. 2410). This legislation would give the Centers for Disease Control the authority to carry out programs related to SCD, the complications related to the disease, and sickle cell trait.
Patient Quality of Life Coalition
SEPTEMBER 218
APHON Supports Revisions to Payment Policies
APHON supported a letter that proposed changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and the Quality Payment Program in order to better support care for patients with serious illnesses and chronic conditions.
APHON Supports Access to Pain Medications For Hospice and Palliative Care
APHON supported a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid supporting changes to opioid policy, but proposed several guiding principles to ensure that cancer patients and others with serious illnesses would be exempt from opioid exemptions.
APHON Provides Comments to Senate HELP Committee on Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018
APRIL 2018
APHON joined the Patient Quality of Life Coalition in providing a response to the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018. The letter noted that PQLC supported efforts the efforts in the bill but asked for Congress to consider the needs of hospice and palliative care patients.
2017 Sign-On Letters
Alliance for Childhood Cancer
FEBRUARY 2017
Protect Coverage for Children with Cancer and their Families
APHON joined members of the Alliance for Childhood Cancer in urging Congressional leaders to protect coverage for children with cancer and their families, as changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other health care programs are debated.
Healthcare
SEPTEMBER 2017
APHON Concerned with Provisions in Right to Try Legislation
APHON joined patient and provider groups urging Congress to facilitate discussion and consideration of alternative policies that would genuinely increase access to promising investigational therapies.
APHON Calls on Congress to Extend CHIP Funding
APHON joined other advocates for children and pregnant women in urging Congress to enact a five-year extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) which provides high-quality, cost-effective coverage for low-income children and pregnant women in working families.
JUNE 2017
APHON Concerned with Changes to Medicaid
APHON joined other organizations with concern about potential changes to the fundamental structure and purpose of Medicaid.
APHON Supports Expanded Access Principles
As policymakers debate changes to the way in which unapproved therapies are accessed, APHON agrees that changes should adhere to the principles outlined the document.
American Academy of Pediatrics
APRIL 2017
APHON Supports BPCA/PREA Recommendations
APHON joined the American Academy of Pediatrics and other organizations in support of recommendations to strengthen the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act/Pediatric Research Equity Act.
Center to Advance Palliative Care
APRIL 2017
APHON Supports Recommendations for Pediatric Alternative Payment Model
APHON joined an initiative from the Center to Advance Palliative Care to provide recommendations to CMS on the development of a Pediatric Alternative Payment Model.
Nursing Community Coalition
MAY 2017
APHON Concerned with Proposed Budget Cuts
APHON joined members of the Nursing Community in a statement expressing concerns with deep cuts to the Nursing Workforce Development Programs (Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act).
MARCH 2017
APHON Supports Fiscal Year 2018 Funding Request
APHON supported testimony provided by the Nursing Community to the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies requesting $244 million for the HRSA Nursing Workforce Development programs and $160 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).
FEBRUARY 2017
APHON Supports Title VIII Reauthorization
APHON joined with the Nursing Community in a statement commending the reintroduction of the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act.
JANUARY 2017
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Support
APHON joined with members of the Nursing community in urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to include Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists as part of its full implementation of the final rule pertaining the practice of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.
January 2017
Introductory Letter to Congress
APHON joined with members of the Nursing Community in a letter to the House and Senate outlining the core principles of the coalition and highlighting its policy agenda.
2016 Sign-On Letters
DECEMBER 2016
Support of Policy Principles
APHON joined with members of the Nursing Community in a letter to the Presidential Transition Team outlining the core principles of the coalition and highlighting its policy agenda.
Patient Quality of Life Coalition
MARCH 2017
Reintroduction of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act
APHON joined members of the Patient Quality of Life Coalition in support of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) which would improve the training of interdisciplinary health professionals in palliative care.