ࡱ > 7 bjbjUU ), 7| 7| E l 8 t ^ ~ > @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 3 S d d > y > > > . > > > > > < r T @ $ 0 ! < ! > Nurse Practitioners: Rx for America's Health An Overview Nurse Practitioners: Rx for Americas Health is the newly launched creation of many thousands of nurse practitioners (NPs) from every part of the U.S. Its dual goal is to increase NP visibility in arenas related to health care delivery and improve NP representation nationwide. By raising awareness of these highly qualified health professionals among key groups including legislators, regulators, employers, insurers and policy makers, the Campaign seeks to broaden the bounds of health care choices for patients and providers alike. Most Americans, limited by employer selection of health insurance plans and policies governing those plans, rarely have the option of choosing NPs as their primary care providers. Due to varying mixtures of laws, regulations and insurance industry decisions that restrict patient choice, NPs continue to have to press, state by state and health plan by health plan, for the right of patients to have direct access to their care. At a time when the physician pool is made up of approximately 3 specialists for every 1 primary care clinician, these barriers to patient choice make no sense. Indeed, many experts believe that unrestricted access to NPs and full utilization of their skills and knowledge which are grounded in preventive care and wellness promotion not only can alleviate the current shortage of primary care providers but also can enhance the quality of care that patients receive. Legislators, regulators, employers, insurers and policy makers should be encouraged to help correct what critics see as a skewed formula by freeing NPs to practice as they are educated and qualified to do. Nurse Practitioners: Rx for Americas Health is the collaborative effort of individuals from 43 states, 30 state and local organizations, and 5 major national organizations whose combined memberships total more than 40,000 advanced practice nursing professionals: the American College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP), the National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Womens Health (NPWH), the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (NAPNAP), the National Conference of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners (NCGNP), and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties (NONPF). ACNP: A non-profit organization founded in 1993, ACNP, through a combined membership of individuals, groups, state and national organizations, represents approximately 30,000 NPs in the United States. ACNP promotes the political and professional interests of NPs by keeping its membership current on legislative, policy and regulatory issues and by acting to influence health care policy through advocacy and communications with government and industry organizations. Contact information: 1111 19th St. NW, Ste. 404, Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 202-659-2190 -- HYPERLINK "http://www.nurse.org/acnp" www.nurse.org/acnp. NPWH: Founded in 1980, NPWHs mission is to support the ability of NPs to provide quality health care that meets the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of women of all ages. Representing NPs who provide health services to women in primary care settings and specialty practices, NPWH serves individuals and groups across the health care spectrum through comprehensive information on NP preparation and practice and expert consultation on the full range of womens health issues. Contact information: 503 Capitol Court, N.E., Suite 300,Washington, D.C. 20002 -- Phone: 202-543-9693 -- HYPERLINK "http://www.npwh.org" www.npwh.org. NAPNAP: A non-profit association formed in 1973 with a current membership of 6,200, NAPNAP contributes to the highest quality of pediatric health care through leadership and effective communication in the pediatric NP field. NAPNAP is committed to the continuing development of pediatric NPs and acts a single public voice on +issues associated with and affecting their practice. Contact information: 20 Brace Road, Suite 200, Cherry Hill, NJ08034 Phone: 856-857-9700 -- HYPERLINK "http://www.napnap.org" www.napnap.org. NCGNP: Founded in 1981, NCGNP promotes the health care of older adults by advocating for political and regulatory improvements in the nations health care system. NCGNP realizes its goals and creates a unified public voice in the health care reform effort through the effective exchange of ideas and information among an extensive network of gerontological NPs. NCGNP works to advance opportunities for professional development for its members and encourages participation from all NPs interested in the health care of older adults. Contact information: PO Box 232230, Centreville, Va 20120-2230 Phone: 703-802-0088 -- HYPERLINK "http://www.ncgcp.org" www.ncgcp.org. NONPF: Formally established in 1980 and representing over 1150 nurse practitioner faculty members across the country today, NONPF is committed to the educational and clinical preparation of qualified health professionals through the development and improvement of instructional skills and programs in nurse practitioner education. NONPF ensures the quality of NP educators through the administration of standards and guidelines and the monitoring of educational issues affecting NP education. Contact information: 1522 K Street, NW, Suite 702 Washington, DC 20005 Phone: 202-289-8044 -- HYPERLINK "http://www.nonpf.com" www.nonpf.com. # # # For more information about the campaign, or about the history of nurse practitioners and the services they provide, please visit their websites, or call either Pete Selfridge or Karla Cutting at MSI Strategic Communications, 312-944-7398. PAGE 2 ? A N Q W D F J K L m n o { | ~ [ ] ^ s >*B*CJ OJ QJ ph !j >*B*CJ OJ QJ Uph B*CJ OJ QJ ph CJ OJ QJ 5CJ OJ QJ j% CJ U j CJ UCJ aJ 0J CJ j$ >*B*CJ Uph >*B*CJ ph j >*B*CJ Uph CJ H*CJ 5CJ j 5CJ U* 4 @ A \ ] / O P ~ Y _ dh ^ `dh ] ^ `` `dh `` `dh ^ `` dh $ dh a$ E # $ % G H I V W Y Z _ d E F L M N O }z}r}z 0J mH nH u0J j 0J U0J CJ j' >*CJ U 5CJ \ 0J B* CJ ph j(' >*CJ U >*CJ j >*CJ U 5CJ CJ >*B*CJ OJ QJ ph 0J CJ OJ QJ !j >*B*CJ OJ QJ Uph 'jg& >*B*CJ OJ QJ Uph %_ T U D E P h]h &` dh E^E `dh ^`` $`dh ^``a$ $ dh ] a$ dh ] ^ ' 01hP / =!"#$% $ D d *zss C ^ A F . . \ . . \ L e t t e r h e a d \ U s e t h i s N P L o g o . t i f b $ o} g^^ݨ # D Z n# o} g^^ݨPNG IHDR H @ sRGB pHYs \F \FCA IDATx^O-}zjd< b#,6B40 @*EhِgI#x\$H/46 K^EV0W{