Looking Back to Look Forward: Top Health, Nursing, Policy, and Clinical Practice News of 2019

Photo via Flickr / Luis Marina

Each January, AJN takes a close look at the most noteworthy health care–related news of the past year, from general health stories and policy to specific nursing and clinical issues. Which stories stood out in 2019? Here’s a rundown:

Health care news

  • Negative trends intensify for key measures of population health and access to care. As life expectancy declines again in the United States, signaling a three-year trend, the Affordable Care Act remains under threat from GOP-sponsored litigation; children have been losing coverage; new work requirements and paperwork barriers are undercutting Medicaid coverage gains; and rising drug costs are in the spotlight.
  • Cyberattacks and hospital data security. Health care organizations’ cybersecurity spending lags behind that of other industries.
  • A changing climate. As environmental protections are weakened or rolled back, new research details the significant and long-lasting health consequences of climate change.
  • Women’s reproductive health. The U.S. maternal mortality rate continues to rise, and several states have passed legislation to curtail abortion access.
  • Society in distress. In 2019, Americans experienced the public health consequences of political discord, poverty, and unaddressed social needs, as magnified by the crisis at the border and rising rates of gun violence and homelessness.

2020-01-14T09:16:17-05:00January 14th, 2020|health care policy, Nursing|0 Comments

Informing Policy, Driving Change: No Longer Optional for Nurses

Nurses have the knowledge, skills, and obligation.

Rep. Lauren Underwood, left, with AAN president Karen Cox

The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) kicked off its annual policy conference last week by honoring Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, (D-TX), the first registered nurse elected to Congress, and hearing from the nurse most recently elected to the House, Rep. Lauren Underwood, (D-IL). Their presence underscored a viewpoint that is gaining traction in prominent circles, from the World Health Organization to the National Academy of Medicine: Nurses have the knowledge, skills, and obligation to inform policy and drive change.

During her talk, Underwood laid out her policy priorities and expressed her fervent belief that for nurses, “engaging in policy is not optional.”

Underwood serves on three House committees—Veterans’ Affairs, Homeland Security, and Education and Labor—and within those on subcommittees dealing with emergency preparedness, disability assistance, and other topics where she uses her health expertise to influence policy on a range of issues. These include gun violence prevention, black maternal health, infant mortality, drug pricing, and suicide among veterans.

A data-driven approach.

Underwood’s approach to policymaking is data driven. Prompted by research on medication adherence, she sponsored a bill to allow veterans to receive a full-year’s supply of contraceptives rather than having to refill their prescriptions every three months.

When […]

ACA Opens Enrollment for 2019: What Patients Need to Know

Open enrollment in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace opened today, despite shortened deadlines, repeal of the individual mandate, stopping cost-sharing payments, and reduced outreach and marketing for the law. And with all the noise from political talking points adding to an already complicated process, your patients might be in need of a primer on what to do this year. Here are the basics:

Where to enroll

Some states have their own exchange, and some use the federal government’s. Patients can access www.healthcare.gov, www.cuidadodesalud.gov, find their state’s page here, or call (800) 318-2596 for more info.

When to enroll

Enrollment begins November 1 (except for in California, where it began in October). However, deadlines differ in some states. The deadline for most states this year is December 15. A handful (New York, California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Colorado) have deadlines in January. Those who wait until January to enroll should be aware that their coverage will not start until February.

What about the individual mandate?

Included in the Republican-backed tax plan signed into law last year was a repeal of the individual mandate penalty for individuals who choose not to get insurance. For the coming year, this repeal will be in effect in almost all states (Massachusetts, New Jersey, and the District of Columbia will […]

Despite Outreach Cuts, Open Enrollment for the ACA Underway

Open enrollment for insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) starts tomorrow, and ends December 15, allowing people half the time to enroll compared with previous years. There is much confusion and misinformation surrounding the ACA, particularly after recent executive orders by President Donald Trump to stop cost-sharing reduction (CSR) payments.

In addition, budgets for ACA advertising and outreach have been slashed by the Trump administration this year, which will inevitably lead to fewer people getting covered.

Bridging the ACA outreach gap.

To help bridge the gap left by the reduction in outreach, advocacy groups such as Get America Covered are reaching out to inform the public about enrollment. And nursing groups such as the American Nurses Association have stated their commitment to informing patients on how and when they can enroll. Below is some information for patients who might be confused about the law and how it currently stands. […]

Why You Need to Know about the Proposed Health Care Plan

Rep. Paul Ryan, Wisconsin/Flickr/Gage Skidmore

AHCA Release Ignites Concerns from Right and Left

The administration’s plan to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was released earlier this week and has ignited a firestorm among Republicans and Democrats alike.

Democrats claim the American Health Care Act (AHCA) will create havoc and hardship for millions of the most vulnerable.

Many Republicans are worried about the plan’s effect on their constituents, while more conservative members of the GOP feel it doesn’t go far enough in repealing the ACA.

While there is a stated push by the new administration to “sell” the plan and implement it quickly to keep campaign promises, legislators in both parties are calling for time to examine the plan and analyze the cost of the plan, which has yet to be determined.

As almost everyone knows, finding a way to provide affordable health care in this country is very complicated and requires a delicate balance of funding by the federal government and states. It’s likely that there will be several changes before a final plan is in place.

What seems to be clear is that the changes coming down the road will have a direct impact on nurses, patients, and the institutions in which we work. Will […]

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