Public Policy News
States Explore Ways to Fund Nursing Education
Publish Date: 2/22/2012
States nationwide are experiencing a shortage of both nurse faculty and practicing nurses. Several states are working to address both of these issues through legislation. Learn More
Legislating Competence? Bills Focus on Continuing Competency
Publish Date: 2/15/2012
California and Georgia are considering bills that would require a demonstration of competency for professional registered nurses. Learn More
West Virginia Proposes Tax Credit for Nurse Faculty
Publish Date: 2/15/2012
West Virginia is considering Senate Bill 384, which would establish a tax credit of up to $3500 for full-time nurse educators. Learn More
New York and New Jersey Consider BSN Requirement
Publish Date: 2/1/2012
Legislators in New York and New Jersey are both considering bills which would require new registered nurses to earn a bachelor’s degree in nursing within 10 years of becoming licensed. Learn More
White House Highlights 10 States’ Reform Efforts: AL, CO, ID, MI, MN, MS, NV, PA and RI
Publish Date: 2/1/2012
This progress report from the White House details the various actions different states have taken to implement health care reforms, with specific profiles of 10 states’ efforts to establish affordable insurance exchanges. Learn More
CMS Hospital Engagement Networks
Publish Date: 1/18/2012
As part of its Partnership for Patients program, CMS has engaged 26 Hospital Engagement Networks (HENs) to design and conduct various types of training events and sessions for hospitals. Learn More
Check for Your Colleagues – CMS Innovation Advisors
Publish Date: 1/18/2012
On January 3, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the first group of Innovation Advisors. 73 individuals from 23 states and the District of Columbia have been selected to work with the CMS Innovation Center to test new models of care delivery in their own organizations and communities. Learn More
Check Your Area - CMS Names Pioneer ACOs
Publish Date: 1/18/2012
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is testing an alternative ACO model, the Pioneer ACO Model. The Pioneer ACO Model is designed to support organizations with experience in operating as an ACO. Learn More
New Jersey Governor Signs Surgical Technologist Bill
Publish Date: 1/18/2012
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie signed Assembly bill 3946 which sets forth minimum requirements for employment as a surgical technologist in New Jersey hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. Learn More
AORN Comments on CMS' Conditions of Participation
Publish Date: 12/28/2011
In an effort to have the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) look to future improvements in the Conditions of Participation, AORN submitted comments on December 19 regarding proposed reforms of outdated or unnecessary Hospital Conditions of Participation. Learn More
New Jersey Surgical Technologist Bill Headed Back to Governor's Desk
Publish Date: 12/21/2011
In June 2011, the New Jersey legislature passed Assembly bill 3946, an education and certification bill for surgical technologists. In November 2011, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie returned A3946 to the legislature due to concerns that the bill would limit the pool of candidates eligible for employment as a surgical technologist to only those who possess a specific credential. Learn More
Joint Commission Drops Term ‘Disruptive Behavior’
Publish Date: 12/7/2011
The Joint Commission’s leadership standard LD 03.01.01, “Leaders create and maintain a culture of safety and quality throughout the hospital,” was implemented in January 2009. Recognizing that behavior that intimidates others and affects morale or staff turnover can be harmful to patient care, the Joint Commission’s intent in introducing LD 03.01.01 was to require a formal process to manage unacceptable behavior in accredited hospitals. Learn More
Nurse Appointed Administrator of CMS
Publish Date: 12/7/2011
President Obama has nominated Marilyn Tavenner, MHA BSN RN, to replace Dr. Donald Berwick as the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Learn More
ACO Final Rule Recognizes Nursing Leadership Rules
Publish Date: 11/23/2011
On November 2, 2011, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published its much anticipated final rule on the design and implementation of the Medicare Shared Savings Program and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). The final rules are intended to help hospitals and health care professionals better coordinate care for Medicare patients through ACOs. Learn More
New Jersey Governor Conditionally Vetoes Surgical Technologist Bill
Publish Date: 11/15/2011
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie returned a surgical technologist education and certification bill back to the legislature without his signature last week, citing concerns that the bill would limit the pool of candidates eligible for employment as a surgical technologist. Learn More
Florida State Coordinator Attends ANA Advocacy Training
Publish Date: 10/24/11
AORN State Coordinator for the state of Florida, Mary Jane “MJ” Balun, RN CNOR, recently attended the American Nurses Association (ANA) Advocacy Institute in Washington, DC. The ANA Advocacy Institute is designed to equip registered nurses to influence health policy at the local, state, and national levels. Learn More
RN Circulator Surveys Reveal Gaps in RN Circulator Use
Publish Date: 10/12/11
This September, AORN emailed 4,700 staff nurses, OR managers, nurse executives and other perioperative nursing professionals a survey on their facility's use of registered nurses as circulators. AORN's goal was to learn more about the circulator position in hospitals and other facilities across the United States. Learn More
New York Governor Vetoes Surgical Technologist Bill
Publish Date: 9/28/11
On Friday, September 23, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo vetoed Senate bill 4563-A/A.6539-B, a surgical technologist education and certification bill that passed the New York State Senate and State Assembly earlier this summer. Learn More
North Carolina Safe Surgery Collaborative
Publish Date: 8/31/11
North Carolina’s Center for Hospital Quality and Patient Safety recently introduced a statewide safe surgery collaborative designed to improve perioperative safety by implementing core, evidence-based interventions within the context of an open and collaborative learning network. Learn More
Study Recommendations on Assistants at Surgery
Publish Date: 8/31/11
The American College of Surgeons recently released the 2011 edition of its Physician as Assistants at Surgery study,a joint publication of the American College of Surgeons and 20 other surgical specialty organizations intended to indicate whether an operation may call for the use of a physician as an assistant. Learn More
Study Examines California Staffing Mandate
Publish Date: 8/3/11
Health Affairs recently published a study examining nurse staffing ratios in California in comparison to those in similar United States hospitals. Learn More
Michigan Passes RN Circulator Data Collection Bill
Publish Date: 7/6/11
On June 21, 2001, Michigan’s governor Rick Snyder signed House bills 4526 and 4325, both budget bills designed to resolve the state’s current fiscal instability. Learn More
AORN Supports Sterile Processing Bill in New York; PA & OH Expected Soon
Publish Date: 6/8/11
AORN is supporting the International Association of Healthcare Central Service Materials Management’s (IASCHMM) central sterile supply certification bill in New York this year. Learn More
New York RNFA Bill Moving; Montana Bill in Effect July 1
Publish Date: 6/8/11
On July 1, 2011, Montana will become the sixteenth state requiring third party reimbursement for surgical first assistant services performed by a registered nurse first assistant. Learn More
IOM Future of Nursing Update: RACs Gaining Momentum; Need Perioperative Voices
Publish Date: 5/25/11
A direct result of the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing report is the formation of state Regional Action Coalitions (RACs) to implement the recommendations in the IOM report at the local, state and regional level. Learn More
Staffing Ratio Bills Harming RN as Circulator Efforts
Publish Date: 2/16/11
AORN’s government affairs office is seeing an increase in nurse staffing bills being introduced in the states this year. Learn More