Deadline through tomorrow, 7/25/16! AANP Calls for Support for Expanding Veterans' Access to NPs in Primary Care

Please read the powerful message below from our distinguished colleague, Dr. Loretta Ford, sent to us through AANP, then take a few minutes to visit the links and respond.

Now is the time! Let's do this for our veterans, for all our patients, and for our NP colleagues nationwide...

Dear Colleague,

As I am sure you are aware, we are at a historic crossroads in our profession – a unique opportunity to have NP delivered care readily available to the servicemen and women seeking health care through Veterans Administration facilities.

The Veterans Administration has proposed a rule change that would allow NPs who care for our veterans to practice to the full extent of their education and clinical training nationwide. The VA is one of the largest employers of NPs, and this change is likely to have a positive impact well beyond the VA.

We have powerful allies, but we also have opposition, and they are working very hard to pressure the VA to withdraw this proposed change. You know the arguments: that NPs need physician oversight; that NP care is not safe; that NPs can work in teams as long as the team is led by a physician. Not a shred of evidence supports these arguments, but they are making them nonetheless.

The proposed rule is open for public comment through July 25, 2016. As advocates for our patients, every one of us has a responsibility to make sure that our voices are heard on this critical issue.

I ask that you join with me and take action.

Visit https://www.veteransdeservecare.org for a compelling look at the VA situation and a 30-second television spot that we have created to help garner support for direct access to NPs by VA patients. Then, take a minute to lend your support for the proposed rule. It couldn't be simpler or more important. Just go to https://www.aanp.org/legislation-regulation/advocacy-center?vvsrc=%2fCampaigns%2f46674%2fRespond to send in your comments, and tell the VA that you stand in support of the proposal to give veterans better access to NP care.

You can make a difference. Don't miss this unprecedented opportunity.

Thank you,

Loretta C. Ford, EdD, RN, PNP, FAAN, FAANP
Dean and Professor Emerita, School of Nursing, University of Rochester
Co-Founder of the nurse practitioner role, 1965