The latest edition of the Annual Report to the Nation on the Status of Cancer, 1975-2014, confirms that death rates are decreasing for 11 of the 16 most common types of cancer in men and 13 of the 18 most common types in women.

In March 2017, President Trump issued what was called his “skinny budget.” The name refers to the short length of his proposed budget document, as well as the draconian cuts it brought to almost every federal agency.

The National Academy of Medicine’s (NAM’s), formerly known as the Institutes of Medicine, 2010 Future of Nursing report was touted as a significant shift in the nursing profession. The report provided four important milestones for the field to achieve by 2020.

After former President Obama’s surgeon general was asked to resign by the Trump administration, the White House appointed Rear Admiral Sylvia Trent-Adams, PhD, RN, FAAN, as acting surgeon general.

“Obamacare is the law of the land.” And thus ended the debate over repeal and replace of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), as Paul Ryan (R-WI), the speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives left the podium Friday afternoon on March 24.

President Trump is a preparing a new executive order that would outline recommendations for the nation’s fight against opioid addiction. According to report released in STAT, the executive order would form a commission of four top Trump aides, including Attorney General Jeffery Sessions, Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price, Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin, and Defense Secretary James Mattis. The commission would be led by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and would be fleshed out with another five other yet-to-be-named officials from the state government level, law enforcement, and other areas potentially impacted by the national crisis.

After the GOP spent weeks lobbying for support, House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) informed President Trump on March 24 that the replacement healthcare proposal, the American Health Care Act (AHCA), did not have enough support in the House of Representatives. The bill was pulled from voting, which ensured that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) would be in place for the foreseeable future. The Republican party failed to garner enough support for the bill, with some moderates fearing it would strand many without access to health care, whereas more conservative factions believed the AHCA didn’t dismantle enough portions of the ACA.

On March 8, 2017, House Speaker Paul Ryan announced the American Health Care Act (AHCA), the Republican replacement plan for the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The AHCA is becoming known to many on Capitol Hill as Trumpcare, and it’s already facing stiff opposition from Democrats and Republicans alike. Many conservative Republicans are calling it Obamacare 2.0 and expected a full repeal of the ACA. Moderate Republicans are unlikely to support the bill, because it could potentially strand millions without insurance coverage provided by the ACA.

Congressional champions are hard to find. Certainly, elected officials are eager to stand up for a variety of health, provider, and patient advocacy issues that pull at our heart strings. But to dig deep and find real solutions—that’s what’s found in the rare leaders who commit to arduous details.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has outlined it 2016 research year in review, detailing work done on atomic imaging for drug and protein interactions, biomarkers for prostate cancer, opioid efficacy, and the importance of palliative care. Often lauded as an example of the positive impact that federal agencies can have on Americans, NIH has received welcome support and funding from both sides of the aisle. The research, clinical trials, treatments, and cures that come out of the NIH are life changing and life saving, and all parties in congress recognize its importance.

In a speech at the National Press Club, U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell explained that she was continuing the presidential administrations’ conversations about national health care. In it, the secretary expounded on the virtues of access, quality, and affordability in a national system capable of reaching millions of Americans.

The 2016 presidential race was one for the record books. This cycle saw two diametrically opposed candidates, in both style and ideology. They each represented a large segment of the American electorate and wanted to take the country in very different directions. But now it is over, and we can all go back to other endeavors. Right?

In a move to make government sponsored clinical trials publicly known and easily found, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a new process for submitting and releasing clinical trials on the government's new clinical trials website.

There are currently 25 states, along with Washington, DC, that have passed legislation allowing the prescription of medical marijuana to patients with certain diseases. Throughout the country there have been pushes—both for and against—for a federal law supporting the use of medical marijuana. In mid-July, the Obama administration’s Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) hinted that it might support a federal law allowing for the use of medical marijuana.

Facing a national opioid abuse epidemic, the U.S. Congress is asking federal agencies to review their specific procedures and action plans on the issue.

Reforming health care toward a system that is equitable and sustainable is a priority in national policy. Legislators on Capitol Hill determine healthcare funding priorities, which are key to reform. Nurses need to be part of the conversation for positive change and innovation.

In a bipartisan move, Congress successfully passed the $1.15 trillion omnibus spending bill on December 18, 2015 along with a $680 billion tax package to finalize their 2016 budget, which will fund the government until September 30, 2016.