Time To Take National Action -Urge Your US House of Representative to Co-Sponsor Protecting Access to Primary Care Act (H.R. 2986)

On August 2nd, 2013, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) introduced the Protecting Access to Primary Care Act (H.R. 2986) to improve access to primary care for individuals enrolled in Medicaid. The bill will improve reimbursement rates for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and other primary health care providers. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) presently provides improved reimbursement rates for physicians, but does not similarly increase reimbursement rates for other primary care providers like nurse practitioners and physician assistants.

“We know that we need more primary care providers to meet the needs of our population,” said Bonamici. “Unfortunately the ACA only provides improved reimbursement to physicians, and leaves behind other providers, like independent nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The legislation I introduced makes a small but significant change to the ACA that will encourage more primary care providers to care for Medicaid patients.”

"Medicaid enrollees across the country are increasingly relying on nurse practitioners as their primary care providers, especially in rural or underserved areas. With enrollment in Medicaid increasing as eligibility expands, it's critical that patients have access to NPs in order to meet the growing demand for their services”, said Roger Fogg, FNP, Oregon State Representative for the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.

Angie Golden, President, American Association of Nurse Practitioners agrees, adding that “AANP deeply appreciates Congresswoman Bonamici's effort to address this need by introducing this legislation to ensure that patients have access to NPs and that NPs are able to receive appropriate payment for the primary care services they provide to their patients on Medicaid.”

The Affordable Care Act greatly expands the population served by Medicaid, increasing demand for the services of primary care providers. To encourage primary care providers to service this expanded population, the ACA temporarily allowed for Medicare-level reimbursements of Medicaid patients in 2013 and 2014. Bonamici’s legislation applies the increased rate to nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, physician assistants, and certified nurse-midwives.

H.R. 2986 is endorsed by the American Nurses Association, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

Click here to send a message to your New York elected US House of Representative urging them to co-sponsor this important legislation (feel free to edit the text to personalize the message or make it applicable to your practice).

Sincerely, The Governmental Affairs Committee of The NPA

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