A Quick Round Up of Nurses Responses to The Supreme Court's Ruling on Health Care Reform

With the Supreme Court ruling to uphold the entire Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act (ACA), we thought it would be fitting to share with you some responses by nursing organizations across the country in response to this landmark ruling.

Ohio Nurses Association Questions Impact of Issue 3 with the Supreme Court's Decision to Uphold Health Care Reform

Last November, the citizens of Ohio voted in support of legislation (Issue 3) that said no law can force someone to have insurance, thus negating the individual mandate included in the ACA. The Ohio Nurses Association is now left wondering how will Ohio implement the provisions in the ACA and what effect will this have on the nursing workforce?

Nurse leaders happy with ruling on ACA

The ANA has touted the law’s potential to increase the profile of RNs in the healthcare system through new models such as accountable care organizations and medical homes. These models would rely on RNs’ expertise in care coordination, the ANA has said.

ANA Lauds Supreme Court Decision Upholding Health Care Reform Law

The American Nurses Association (ANA) lauds the U.S. Supreme Court's decision today to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the "minimum coverage provision," hailing it as a victory for all patients and their families.

Nurses: 'Court Ruling Does Not End Healthcare Crisis Or the Need to Continue the Campaign for Reform'

The Supreme Court decision should not be seen as the end of the efforts by health care activists for a permanent fix of our broken healthcare system, said National Nurses United. The union pledged to step up a campaign for a reform that is not based on extending the grip of a failed private insurance system, but "on a universal program based on patient need, not on profits or ability to pay.

The New Face of Health Care: Why Nurses Are in Such High Demand

Last week, Christine Mackey-Ross, reporting for The Atlantic, detailed how nurses are taking a leading role in the formation and implementation of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). This new delivery method is being heralded as a way to bend the cost curve while also providing higher quality care than previously delivered. Ms. Mackey-Ross also highlights the growing role for nurse executives who utilize their clinical expertise to help prepare their respective ACO as this new model of care is fully integrated.

Click here to read the full article.

Important Opportunities And Challenges Posed For Registered Nurses And APRNs In The Creation And Implementation Of ACOs

On March 27th, The Nursing Alliance for Quality Care and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners will be hosting a symposium on nursing leadership in Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The symposium will be focused on opportunities and strategies for registered nurses and advanced practiced registered nurses working next to and within ACOs. The event, which will be held in Washington D.C., features Dr. Kavita Patel, Barbara Safriet, Joyce Dubow and Nancy O'Rourke as speakers.

Click here to find out more information about this upcoming symposium.

Also, don't forget to register for our upcoming national meeting in Washington D.C. on April 26-27. Registration is free and if you are interested, please contact Heather Kelley-Thompson at hkelley@nursing.upenn.edu

Nurses, Care Coordinators Are Gaining Importance in ACOs

Earlier this morning, Jennifer Lubell, of AISHealth.com, detailed the growing importance of nurses in the ACO model of care. These "embedded nurses", or care coordinators, have been found to be an essential part of the ACO framework as they improve patient outcomes by providing a significant communication link between the patient and physician. Insurance companies, including Cigna and Aetna, have touted the care coordinator role as a key contributor to improved patient outcomes.

Click here to read the full article.

"The End of Health Insurance Companies" - An Op-Ed piece by Ezekiel Emanuel, Keynote Speaker at INQRI's Upcoming National Meeting

This past Monday, Ezekiel J. Emanuel and Jeffrey B. Liebman wrote an Op-Ed in the New York Times predicting the demise of health insurance companies as a result of the implementation of accountable care organizations (ACOs). Drs. Emanuel & Liebman emphasize the importance of the transfer of risk from insurance companies to ACOs in this model of care and how it can lead to insurance companies becoming obsolete.

Click here to read the Op-Ed.

If you are interested in attending our national meeting (w/ no registration fee), which will take place in Washington, D.C. on April 26th-27th, please contact Heather Kelley-Thompson at hkelley@nursing.upenn.edu.

Reflecting On Dr. Berwick's Tenure As CMS Administrator

In this month's edition of Health Affairs, Harris Meyer wrote a fascinating piece reflecting on Dr. Don Berwick's short tenure as the head of the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). In the article, Ms. Meyer discussed the praise Dr. Berwick's body of work at the CMS received from numerous professional organizations and highly respected health leaders.

Click here to read the Health Affairs article (freely available to all).