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AMERICAN NURSES ASSOCIATION HAILS NURSE EDUCATION REAUTHORIZATIONBill will consolidate and strengthen programs in underserved areasWashington, DC -- The American Nurses Association (ANA) today hailed Congress for passage of legislation that will reauthorize Nurse Education Act (NEA) programs for five years. Without the continuation of NEA programs, the current nursing shortage in the nation’s under served areas will be further exacerbated. The Health Professions Education Partnerships Act of 1998, S. 1754, was passed by the House yesterday by a vote of 303-102 and by the Senate today by a unanimous vote. The bill amends the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) to consolidate and reauthorize health professions and minority and disadvantaged health education programs currently funded under Title VII and Title VIII of the PHSA. The nursing programs in Title VIII will be restructured to allow for more efficient, flexible and comprehensive federal financial support for nursing workforce development. “The American Nurses Association is extremely pleased by the strong support of Congress for this important measure,” said ANA President Beverly L. Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN. “Without this type of program to support graduate level and basic nurse education, we would enter the 21st century ill-prepared to provide adequate health care to aging baby boomers and their grandchildren.” ANA had special praise for Sen. Bill Frist (R-TN) and Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA), chairman and ranking member of the Labor and Human Resources Subcommittee on Public Health and Safety, whose efforts in drafting the legislation and reconciling numerous concerns among the health professions resulted in legislation that was supported by a broad range of health professionals concerned with the delivery of care in underserved areas. ANA noted also that the efforts of House Commerce Chairman Tom Bliley (R-VA) and Ranking Member John Dingell (D-MI) to expedite consideration of the bill were essential in passing the new authorization for the programs. The bill consolidates current nursing programs into three new authorities for receipt of federal funds:
Programs to increase nursing workforce diversity: Both overutilization of costly emergency services and decreased access to primary health care have been associated with a low representation of minority health care providers. This reauthorization will provide for increased flexibility in the use of funds to enhance diversity in nursing education and practice. Projects to strengthen the capacity of basic nursing education: Funding will assist programs directed toward basic nurse education; thereby, enhancing the basic nursing workforce. The areas affected include: services in schools and community settings, care for underserved populations and high-risk groups, practice in managed care and quality improvement, and development of cultural competencies. The NEA provides the majority of federal funding for nurse education, the largest of the health professions. The graduate-level programs funded by NEA enroll approximately 30,000 students annually. “The American Nurses Association commends Congress for passing this legislation and showing a commitment to and an understanding of the value of registered nurses in all health care settings, which, in turn, leads to greater health care access for consumers,” said Malone. The American Nurses Association is the only full-service
professional organization representing the nation's 2.6 million Registered
Nurses through its 53 constituent associations. ANA advances the nursing
profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the
economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive
and realistic view of nursing, and lobbying the Congress and regulatory
agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.
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