Nurses highlight pro-nursing healthcare reform provisions in letter to Congress

Members of the American Organization of Nurse Executives recently expressed their support for certain pro-nursing provisions in the healthcare reform bills.

In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), the group outlined a number of healthcare reform positions that would help nurses. In the Senate, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would provide a nurse student loan repayment program, nurse education grants and create new scholarship programs. It also would establish a prevention and public health fund. In the House, the America's Affordable Health Choices Act would create scholarships for disadvantaged nursing students and loan repayment programs, according to the letter.

The organization also touted the potential benefits of several proposed quality improvement initiatives, home visitation opportunities and healthcare cost savings measures.