Letter to the House Nursing Caucus Co-Chairs Thanking them for Introducing the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act
October 26th, 2022
The Honorable Lucille Roybal-Allard
United States House of Representatives
2083 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
The Honorable David Joyce
United States House of Representatives
2065 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Congresswoman Roybal-Allard and Congressman Joyce,
On behalf of the 57 undersigned organizations representing the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), we would like to thank you for introducing H.R. 8812, the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act. The NCC is a cross section of education, practice, research, and regulation within the nursing profession representing Registered Nurses (RNs), Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs),1 nurse leaders, students, faculty, and researchers. Together, we support this comprehensive effort to ensure patients, including those under Medicare and Medicaid, have access to the high-quality care provided by our nation’s APRNs.
As we have witnessed throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond, nurses and APRNs continue to lead at the frontline of our health care system. From primary and maternal care to acute and chronic care, APRNs serve in all settings and in areas throughout the nation, including rural and underserved communities. As of 2020, over 233,000 APRNs treated Medicare patients and approximately 40% of Medicare beneficiaries received care from an APRN.2
The ICAN Act would remove outdated barriers in the Medicare and Medicaid programs that currently prevent APRNs from practicing to the full extent of their education and clinical training. Removing these barriers will also increase patients’ timely access to care from the provider of their choice. Removing these barriers on APRNs and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries is consistent with recommendations from a broad range of organizations, including the National Academy of Medicine, the National Governors Association, the National Rural Health Association, the Federal Trade Commission, the Bipartisan Policy Center, the Brookings Institution, Americans for Prosperity, and the American Enterprise Institute.
As we continue to support the health care of our communities throughout the country, and create a more equitable system, passing the ICAN Act is essential. We appreciate your leadership in this effort as we work to address today’s challenges and prepare for a healthier tomorrow. If the Nursing Community Coalition can be of any assistance to you or your staff, please do not hesitate to contact the coalition’s Executive Director, Rachel Stevenson, at rstevenson@thenursingcommunity.org or at 202-463-6930, ext. 271.
Sincerely,
Academy of Medical-Surgical Nurses
Academy of Neonatal Nursing
American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing
American Academy of Emergency Nurse Practitioners
American Academy of Nursing
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses
American Association of Heart Failure Nurses
American Association of Neuroscience Nurses
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology
American Association of Nurse Practitioners
American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing
American College of Nurse-Midwives
American Nephrology Nurses Association
American Nurses Association
American Nursing Informatics Association
American Organization for Nursing Leadership
American Society for Pain Management Nursing
Association for Radiologic and Imaging Nursing
American Society of PeriAnesthesia Nurses
Association of Community Health Nursing Educators
Association of Nurses in AIDS Care
Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses
Association of Public Health Nurses
Association of Rehabilitation Nurses
Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists
Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses
Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health Service
Dermatology Nurses’ Association
Friends of the National Institute of Nursing Research
Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association
Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association
Infusion Nurses Society
International Association of Forensic Nurses
National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
National Association of Hispanic Nurses
National Association of Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
National Association of Neonatal Nurses
National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health
National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
National Association of School Nurses
National Black Nurses Association
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers
National Hartford Center of Gerontological Nursing Excellence
National League for Nursing
National Nurse-Led Care Consortium
National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties
Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs
Oncology Nursing Society
Organization for Associate Degree Nursing
Pediatric Endocrinology Nursing Society
Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
Society of Pediatric Nurses
Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates
Wound, Ostomy, and Continence Nurses Society
cc:
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Chairman Frank Pallone, House Energy & Commerce Committee
Ranking Member Cathy McMorris Rodgers, House Energy & Commerce Committee
Chairman Richard Neal, House Ways & Means Committee
Ranking Member Kevin Brady, House Ways & Means Committee
Rep. Earl Blumenauer
Rep. Adrian Smith
Rep. Rodney Davis
Rep. Janice Schakowsky
Rep. Lauren Underwood
Rep. Andre Carson
1 APRNs include certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs), clinical nurse
specialists (CNSs) and nurse practitioners (NPs).
2 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Data.CMS.gov. CMS Program Statistics-Medicare Providers. (2022)
Retrieved from: https://data.cms.gov/summary-statistics-on-provider-enrollment/medicare-provider-typereports/cms-program-statistics-medicare-providers.
Promoting America’s Health Through Nursing Care
www.thenursingcommunity.org · 202-463-6930 ext. 272