Expanding Access to High-Quality Nursing Care 

The American Nurses Association (ANA) celebrates the reintroduction of the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act in both chambers of Congress. Sponsored by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), this bipartisan legislation aims to remove longstanding barriers that prevent advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) from practicing to the full extent of their education and clinical training. 

The ICAN Act is a critical step toward modernizing outdated Medicare and Medicaid policies, ensuring that APRNs—nurse practitioners, nurse anesthetists, nurse-midwives, and clinical nurse specialists—can provide essential health care services without unnecessary restrictions. The bill will expand patient access to services such as cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, medical nutrition therapy referrals, and hospice eligibility certifications, among others. 

“The reintroduction of this bill is a critical step toward expanding health care access across the country. By removing outdated barriers, it empowers APRNs to provide the care they are trained for—especially in rural and underserved communities where they are often the primary providers. Time and again, we’ve seen that when restrictions are lifted, APRNs deliver essential, high-quality care. The ICAN Act builds on that progress, making these changes permanent so every patient can get the care they need from the provider they trust” said ANA President Jennifer Mensik Kennedy, PhD, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. 

ANA stands alongside a broad coalition of health care organizations in support of the ICAN Act and commends Senators Merkley and Lummis for their leadership and unwavering commitment to nurses and the patients they serve. ANA remains committed to advancing policies that empower nurses to deliver high-quality care and improve patient outcomes nationwide.