Health Policy And Advocacy Archive Sign Ons

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letters

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letters

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.

View the supporting letter

Access Fact Sheet

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

View the supporting letters

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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).

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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).

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letters

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.

View the supporting letter

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.  

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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).

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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).

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letters

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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).

View the supporting letter

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

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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. 

View supporting letter

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. 

View the suppporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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.

View the supporting letter

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. 

View the supporting letter

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. 

View the supporting letter

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. 

View the supporting letter

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.

View support letter

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.

View support letter

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.

View support letter

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.

View support letter

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.

View support letter

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.

View support letter

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.

View support letter

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).

View support letter

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).

View support letter

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.

View support letter

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.

View support letter

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.

View support letter

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.

View House support letter

View Senate support letter