The Time is Now to Advance Reform

WASHINGTON – The American Academy of Nursing (AAN) applauds President Obama for convening Thursday’s Health Care Summit, opening a brief window for Congressional compromise despite fundamental philosophical differences. The Academy is hopeful that the collegial discussion of significant issues that took place between Republicans and Democrats will spur swift action on the framework President Obama has provided.

The Academy is committed to advancing the practices and proven solutions of nurses that have reduced skyrocketing costs and addressed chronic health issues, two areas of frequent agreement among political leaders during Thursday’s summit. Chronic illness is a burden on annual Medicare spending, which is predicted to grow to $879 billion by 2018, four percent of the nation’s gross domestic product. Chronic illness accounts for 75 cents of every dollar spent on health care.

“The interdependence of the components of the health care system requires a comprehensive response,” said AAN CEO Pat Ford-Roegner, MSW, RN, FAAN. “It is critical that we move quickly to enact effective, coherent legislation that improves the health, well-being and financial stability of American families.”

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The American Academy of Nursing (www.aannet.org) anticipates and tracks national and international trends in health care, while addressing resulting issues of health care knowledge and policy. The Academy’s mission is to serve the public and nursing profession by advancing health policy and practice through the generation, synthesis, and dissemination of nursing knowledge

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