AANP announced that right before the Memorial Day weekend, Senators Cantwell (D-WA), Murray (D-WA) and Thune (R-SD) introduced S. 1456, the Rural ACO Improvement Act of 2015. This legislation, once passed, will allow for nurse practitioners' patients to be counted in the shared savings of ACOs. Under current law, patients who only see NPs are not eligible to be counted toward the shared savings. This legislation allows NPs to be full partners in the ACO model by allowing their patients to be counted toward the shared savings. Furthermore, this legislation will make it possible for NP practices to independently join or establish their own ACOs. Now that the bill has been introduced, it is important to get other members of the Senate to support this legislation. Take action to encourage your Senator to cosponsor this legislation. http://www.aanp.org/legislation-regulation/advocacy-center?vvsrc=%2fcampaigns%2f41029%2frespond