Today, within hours of the US House of Representative acting against the health and well-being of all Americans, the American Nurses Association issued a strong statement opposing this action. While many nurses do not belong to the ANA, it is an important organization with a strong voice for nursing. Here is the press release:
| For Immediate Release May 4, 2017 |
| Contact: Veronica Byrd 301-628-5057 veronica.byrd@ana.org David L. Allen |
American Nurses Association Disappointed with the
Passage of the American Health Care Act
SILVER SPRING, MD – The American Nurses Association (ANA) strongly opposed the American Health Care Act (AHCA) and is deeply disappointed with the passage of this legislation by the United States House of Representatives.
ANA, which represents the interests of more than 3.6 million registered nurses, has expressed serious concerns throughout negotiations about the critical impact the AHCA would have on the 24 million people who stand to lose insurance coverage if the bill becomes law.
“Over the past several weeks, nurses from across the country expressed their strong disapproval of this bill which would negatively impact the health of the nation,” said ANA President Pamela F. Cipriano, PhD, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. “Today, Congress not only ignored the voice of the nation’s most honest and ethical profession and largest group of health care professionals, it also ignored the almost 15 million people in the United States with pre-existing conditions who will now have no protection from insurer discrimination.”
As it is currently written, the AHCA would cut Medicaid funding by $880 billion over 10 years, dramatically increase premiums on seniors, restrict millions of women from access to health care, weaken the sustainability of Medicare, and repeal income-based subsidies that have made it possible for millions of families to buy health insurance. In addition, states would have the option to waive essential health benefit protections that prevent insurance companies from charging individuals with pre-existing conditions significantly more for coverage. Even worse, insurers could decline coverage for substance abuse treatment, maternity care, and preventive services. Late efforts to stabilize the bill’s risk pools for more than 15 million people with pre-existing conditions were wholly inadequate and will leave the nation’s sickest vulnerable.
As this legislation moves to the United States Senate, ANA urges the Senate to allow for opportunities for thoughtful, public feedback in the face of reforms that would have such a far-reaching and personal impact across the nation.
ANA asks the Senate to oppose AHCA in its current form, and stands ready to work with Senators to protect and improve health care access, quality and affordability for all.
# # #
The American Nurses Association (ANA) is the premier organization representing the interests of the nation’s 3.6 million registered nurses. ANA advances the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting a safe and ethical work environment, bolstering the health and wellness of nurses, and advocating on health care issues that affect nurses and the public. ANA is at the forefront of improving the quality of health care for all. For more information, visit www.nursingworld.org.
American Nurses Association (ANA), 8515 Georgia Ave, Silver Spring, MD 20910 United States
NurseManifest 
Reblogged this on Busy Nurse Research and commented:
So glad to see the ANA responding so promptly to this! Advocating for our patients is one of the biggest responsibilities in nursing, and this legislation would hurt so many.
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I applaud our House Representatives for taking even a minor first step in rolling back the harmful aspects of the PPACA and improving on its helpful aspects. As a working RN for 40 years, I’ve found one of the worst things to happen to health care is that the government has inserted itself between patients/families and their care providers. Patients need to be able to decide for themselves what kind of insurance coverage they need and to buy it from competing insurers–true competition determining cost rather than a complex web of sole-vendor risk-taking plus government subsidies. “Free” health care, like Medicaid, should be only for the disabled and poor but no matter their financial status, able-bodied people (who could be working) should NOT get free care, they should pay something.
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Why should people pay for a service that they don’t want? Health care is not a commodity, it is a human need. It also strikes disproportionally on those from lower socio economic status who of course are less able to pay for it. The poorer one is the worse your health outcomes. These people are less able to afford private health insurance. Private health insurance is costlier to administer than a public provision such as the UK’s NHS. Why not spread the cost risk across the population…through general taxation so that you get universal access not linked to ability to pay, you get comprehensive coverage and free at the point of delivery. You can retain choice for certain insurance that you want, for example holiday insurance, but sickness strikes and is not a choice. You pay more than we do, and you have inequity in access and outcomes more than the UK. The well off are ok over there…but then culturally many of you have a visceral loathing of government which blinds you to consider more radical alternatives.
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I assume you have read the vast literature on health inequalities and books such as The Spirit Level?
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…of course my comments are tinged with with irony as we in the UK are being pulled by corporate interests towards a US style system.
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I stand with the ANA and virtually all health professions organizations, healthcare organizations and even some insurers who oppose the AHCA passed yesterday by the House. We need to mobilize and contact our senators to speak out against this bill. This is a cruel piece of legislation—it will have a disastrous impact on the health of so many people. This does not reflect the values of the majority in this country.
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Reblogged this on Sasharose31's Blog.
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I’m still waiting to hear what the ANA and Tennessee Nursing Association have to say about Rep. Diane Black (R-TN) – hopefully condemnation and sanction. She actively works to take health care away from millions of people, including the most vulnerable; she stands in the front row of a bunch of rich, white guys, and speaks of herself as an RN to distract the public from this massive theft. In so doing, she has betrayed our caring profession and the trust of the people we serve.
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Thank you for letting us know about this situation -and for taking action to speak out locally. It is local action that is making a huge difference. The people’s voices of opposition to this kind of situation is making a difference, even though at times it does not seem apparent.
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“While many nurses do not belong to the ANA…”
There are maybe 150,000+/- dues paying members
There are 5,000,000+/- nurses
97% of nurses do not belong to the ANA
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