Nurse Practitioners Urge Congress to Ensure Health Care Access for All

AUSTIN, Texas, March 13 -- The American Association of Nurse Practitioners issued the following news release:

As Congress considers legislation to reform the health care system, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) calls on policymakers to adopt patient-focused health care reforms that improve all patients' access to care and assures their choice of health care providers.

"AANP will continue to work with Congress in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that all patients have access to the health care they need, through Medicare, Medicaid, private insurance or other means," said AANP President Cindy Cooke. "NPs delivered high-quality and affordable care in more than 870 million patient visits last year alone and play a critical role in America's health care system. As a voice for the nation's 222,000 NPs and the patients they serve, we encourage our leaders to make patient-centered policy the priority."

AANP implores Congress to protect and fortify patient-focused care by:

* Ensuring that all patients have access to health care with affordable coverage options regardless of pre-existing conditions;

* Protecting patients' access to health care delivered by the provider of their choice, including nurse practitioners and other advanced practice registered nurses;

* Upholding the principles of Essential Health Benefits;

* Preserving patients' access to Medicaid;

* Improving the Medicare Systems' efficiency by removing barriers to practice and eliminating duplication of provider efforts; and

* Maintaining the nation's commitment to improving its health care workforce.

[Category: Nursing]

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