This Week's Advocacy News: 'Sanders, Cassidy Clash as Senate Panel Advances Health Center Funding'

The Senate Health Committee advanced legislation Thursday (https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4216938-sanders-cassidy-clash-as-senate-panel-advances-health-center-funding/) that would fund community health centers and increase the number of primary care physicians and nurses, despite a clash between the panel’s top members. The Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee advanced the bill in a bipartisan 14-7 vote; however, it’s unclear if the bill has the support necessary to pass the full Senate, especially before funding expires September 30.

ONS Perspective: Bipartisan committees in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate are drafting health funding proposals that would increase investments in nursing training, educational scholarships, and student loan forgiveness. Despite debating the details, U.S. Congress’s message is clear: The country must develop the nursing workforce (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/latest-federal-legislation-invests-in-nursing-workforce-development) so nurses can continue to transform equitable patient care (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/congress-introduces-legislation-to-train-graduate-nursing-students-and-get-them-practicing). Policymakers understand this critical factor thanks to ONS advocacy, collectively in coalitions and individually through ONS member advocates (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/nursing-advocacy-creates-real-change-in-health-policy). Contact your legislators (https://voice.ons.org/advocacy/get-involved-in-onss-health-policy-advocacy#:~:text=how%20to%20contact%20your%20leaders%20and%20legislators) to support the funding and continue to champion your voice for the profession and the patients in your care.

Additional Advocacy News:

• CancerX Announces Steering Committee and Strategic Priorities (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/2xNtCkRO8KsVgMWI2Sj3X?domain=prnewswire.com)
• Health Programs Could Be Stranded by Government Shutdown (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/RQhCCpYX8KIr5jMC231aN?domain=r20.rs6.net)
• Hospitals Share Differing Medical Prices Online Versus Over the Phone, Secret Shopper Survey Finds (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/4Bx1Cn5NxXI0nJOfZmTfI?domain=healthcaredive.com/)
• A Sharp Partisan Divide Remains Over New COVID Boosters (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/c_7QClYMxLIJLBni93Oey?domain=politico.com)
• Tensions Flare Inside House GOP as Moderates Explore New Plan to Avoid Shutdown (https://protect-us.mimecast.com/s/rzg6Co26VKINk7qSOpddX?domain=r20.rs6.net)