Legislative Priorities

During the 2021 legislative session, staffing legislation was passed by both houses and signed into law by the Governor.  Regulations to implement the provisions of the legislation were released in the Spring of 2022.  ANA-NY reviewed these regulations and submitted comments with suggestions and changes that were needed to fully implement the intent of the legislation.  ANA-NY will continue to be engaged on this issue, monitoring and commenting until the final regulations are adopted. We will assess whether future changes are needed and respond accordingly to ensure that the intent of the safe staffing law is fully implemented. We will also continue to support and explore legislation to ensure that hours worked by nurses follow all applicable laws and whether new laws or changes are needed to ensure that staffing is adequate at all facilities and support measures to address hours worked and minimize nurse burnout. ANA-NY also supports the exploration of legislation that would permit New York to join the Nurse Licensure Compact.

New York State Advocacy

• MOS A6697 — A Temporary License
  
• Temporary Practice by Certain US Servicemembers and Servicemembers’ Spouses Licensed or Certified in Another State
• MOS A6421 — Nurse Licensure Compact
  
  • Enhanced Nurse Licensure Information
• MOS S1753/A3330 — Abusive Work Environment Protocols
• Letter to support Funding for the Center for Health Workforce Studies

Registered nurses are the single most important influence in the delivery and management of care for patients. Across the entire patient experience, and wherever there is someone in need of care, registered and advanced practice nurses work tirelessly to identify and meet the needs of the individual, their families, and the communities where they live. Ensuring optimal health for individuals and communities means that registered and advanced practice nurses must play a pivotal role in population and public health. The profession is dedicated to ensuring both population health and health equity. Public health must be focused on promoting and protecting the health of people and the communities where they live, learn, work and play. Public health means addressing determinants of health.  We support measures to support public health including:  ensuring people receive needed vaccinations to prevent the spread of disease; protecting healthcare workers from the threat of prosecution for performing their jobs within the purview of New York State law; protecting New Yorkers from the threat of gun violence; understanding the health risks associated with smoking and other risky behaviors; developing and supporting programs to ensure that individuals can pursue and achieve a healthy lifestyle; developing and supporting programs focused on behavioral health; and evaluating and responding to the social and environmental determinants of health. Far too often, zip codes determine the state of individuals’ health and access to care. We support measures that will address structural health inequities that are distributed unjustly by race, ethnicity, socio-economic status, geographic location or other identity or experiences.  ANA-NY will support timely legislation that is critical to public health and ensuring adequate access to healthcare for all New Yorkers. Further, ANA-NY will oppose legislation or budgetary cuts that lead to a diminished healthcare experience, harm to health, or denial of access to care.

New York State Advocacy

• MOS Health Screening Access bills
• MOS S1196/A1673 — Biomarker legislation
• Letter to Support Budget Proposal to End the Sale of Flavored Tobacco
• Public Health and Medicaid Funding

Federal Advocacy

• Letter to Support Oil and Natural Gas Sector Climate Review
• Letter to US Senate Appropriations Committee: Subcommittee on Interior Environment and Related Agencies

Registered nurses trust ANA-NY because of our dedication to standards, guidelines, and principles. We work hard to elevate the nursing profession by defining the values and priorities for registered nurses. With the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic and the current healthcare worker shortage, it is critically important for registered nurses in all specialties and roles to practice to the full extent of their education and training. With our focus on nursing, ANA-NY is committed to recognizing and alleviating the barriers that registered nurses face. We support scope of practice legislation that acknowledges all facets of nurse education and training for registered and advanced practice registered nurses. We oppose legislation that infringes on registered nursing scope of practice by professionals and others not properly trained and educated to provide nursing care. Further, ANA-NY supports legislation that would require ongoing continuing education for registered nurses in New York.  ANA-NY also supports legislation that will expand access to education and training for future nurses such as legislation to allow simulation in clinical education and expanded scholarship and tax credits for nursing students and preceptors.

New York State Advocacy

• MOS S447-B/A3176 — A Simulation Education
  • Letter to Support Nursing Simulation Legislation
  • Simulation in New York State Nursing Education Whitepaper
• MOS A2230/S2067 — Clinical Preceptor Tax Credit
• MOS S769/A6958 — CRNA Scope of Practice
• New Nurse Residency Programs Whitepaper
• MOO S4784/A7174 — EMS Community Paramedicine
• Letter in Opposition to Budget Proposal for Medication Aide Pilot
• Letter in Opposition to Healthcare Organizations Charging Fees to Nursing Students for Clinical Placement
• Letter in Opposition to Registered Veterinary Nurse

ANA-NY recognizes the ongoing debate over health care reform. We remain committed to educating registered nurses about how the changing system impacts patients’ lives and the nursing profession. We believe all health care reform initiatives should follow these four principles: ensure universal access to a standard package of essential health care services for all New Yorkers; optimize primary care and community-based preventive services, while supporting the cost-effective use of innovative, evidence-based, technology-driven, acute care in-hospital services; encourage economic models of health care services that support those who do not have the means to share in costs; and, ensure a skilled workforce dedicated to providing high quality health care services. ANA-NY will support any legislation that supports these four principles and will oppose any legislation that undermines these principles.

New York State Advocacy

• MOS A6030-A/S6886 — A Non-Patient Specific Orders
  
  • Letter to Support Standing Orders

The Coronavirus pandemic has changed the world as we know it. The pandemic has further strained a healthcare system that was already struggling and added new stressors that had never been contemplated.  ANA-NY supports legislation that would: permanently codify the waiver of certain practice restrictions waived by executive order during the pandemic; protect registered and advanced practice nurses from retaliation when speaking up about safety and patient care issues; support nurses’ mental health and well-being; and expand on the healthcare worker bonus program included in the 2022 - 2023 budget. ANA-NY further supports legislation designed to better respond to future pandemics and ensure that all healthcare workers have access to the needed resources to adequately treat their patients and ensure their own health and safety while performing their duties.

New York State Advocacy

• MOS A7154/S1531 — Adult Vaccine Registry