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ANA ECHOES CLINTON’S CALL TO BOLSTER HEALTH CARE SYSTEMWashington, DC -- The American Nurses Association (ANA) today praised President Clinton for his forward looking policy agenda outlined in last night’s State of the Union address and voiced its staunch support for the president’s health care proposals. ANA believes that improving the health of Americans provides a solid foundation for building a strong nation for the 21st century. The ANA supports many of the proposals that the president announced in his speech, such as increasing access to care for the uninsured, bolstering the Medicare program, and providing tax credits for those with long-term health care needs as well as the family members who care for them. ANA has been an ardent supporter of managed care reforms and echoes the president’s call for congressional passage of a strong patients’ bill of rights. “A strong patients’ bill of rights will go far in protecting the American public from current practices that often place profit before patients,” said ANA President Beverly L. Malone, PhD, RN, FAAN. “The public supports this kind of legislation as do nurses and other providers. It’s time for the Congress to take action,” she said. ANA has long been a steadfast supporter of the Clinton administration’s policy direction on health care issues and remains committed to moving forward with the administration and the Congress to effect policies that reflect nursing’s commitment to better quality health care for all Americans and the interests of the nursing profession. “We urge the Senate to move expeditiously to conclude the trial of the president so that the Congress and the administration can focus proper attention on the vital health care needs of our citizens,” 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 by lobbying the Congress and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.
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