ONS Brings Together Health Policy Experts, Patient Advocates for April Policy Summit

WASHINGTON, DC—March, 8, 2018—To connect oncology nursing advocates with health policy experts to learn, discuss, and share innovative ideas to advance oncology nursing policies at the local, state, and federal levels, the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) will host the 2018 ONS Policy Summit on April 10 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC.    This year’s summit, “Policy Barriers and Opportunities for Nurse Practitioners in Oncology,” will tackle several key issues in oncology nursing, especially related to advanced practice nursing and cancer care. Expert speakers from oncology and healthcare policy will share their knowledge to foster in-depth discussions about key policy topics.    Presenters and attendees will collaborate on health policy issues facing oncology nursing to identify ways to work with government agencies such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Cancer Institute, the Health Resources & Services Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, to advance the quality of cancer care for all patients.   “The ONS Policy Summit provides a platform to bring forward important issues to oncology nurses so we can better inform our advocacy efforts in Washington, DC,” Donna Sweeney, ONS director of government affairs, said. “We look forward to lively and thoughtful panel discussions on ways to expand nursing’s scope of practice and elevate reimbursement for nurse practitioners in oncology.”    The ONS policy summit, which moved to a biannual schedule this year, works to engage stakeholders from across the spectrum of oncology care, health policy, and the federal government. By bringing together representatives from professional societies, patient advocacy groups, and the pharmaceutical industry, along with decision makers from Capitol Hill and federal agencies, ONS aims to move the needle on cancer healthcare policy. ONS’s Center for Advocacy and Health Policy in Washington, DC, is coordinating the summits scheduled for April and October 2018.   ONS is a professional association of more than 39,000 members committed to promoting excellence in oncology nursing and the transformation of cancer care. Since 1975, ONS has provided a professional community for oncology nurses, developed evidence-based education programs and treatment information, and advocated for patient care, all in an effort to improve quality of life and outcomes for patients with cancer and their families. Learn more at www.ons.org (http://www.ons.org/).