AONL asks nurse leaders to contact Congress

AONL this week issued an advocacy alert urging nurse leaders to contact their members of Congress to request nursing priorities be included in a year-end bill. Nurse leaders should emphasize how the pandemic has left hospitals facing significant financial and workforce challenges that are jeopardizing access to patient care. Among the priorities, nurse leaders should request Congress prevent any further damaging cuts to health programs. Another request asks for a temporary per diem payment targeted to hospitals to address their inability to discharge patients to post-acute care or behavioral health facilities because of staffing shortages. Also they should ask Congress to make permanent the expansion of telehealth services and extend the hospital-at-home program, as well as make permanent various waivers so all nurses can continue to provide high-quality health care. Nurse leaders can access more information about AONL’s advocacy efforts on the AONL website.