URGENT Action needed on Monday 9/12/2016

Hello Minnesota APRN Coalition Members,

We are writing you to urge you to take urgent action on the VHA Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Proposed Rule (81 Fed.Reg.33155, May 25, 2016) to the Federal Register. Many of you sent in comments to support this proposed rule change in the Veteran's Health Administration to allow APRNS to work at their full scope of practice. However, opponents are still trying to block implementation of this policy, and are reaching out to Members of Congress to delay the proposal through legislation that extends expiring benefits for our nation's veterans. New legislation was introduced late last week, the Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act (HR 5985). The bill includes an unrelated provision (Sec. 415) that would prevent the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) from allowing our APRN colleagues, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), to practice to the full extent of their education within VHA facilities.
NEW ACTION NEEDED: MN APRN Coalition members are urged to immediately contact your Members of Congress and ask them to encourage the VA to finalize and implement the proposed rule as written. Additionally, please ask your Members to request HR 5985 be removed from the House legislative calendar until a clean bill (without Section 415) can be considered to protect veterans' benefits.
We know that many of you may be unsure how to contact your Member of Congress, but the American Association of Nurse Practitioners has made if very easy for any APRN (not just members) to use the advocacy site to make opinion clear. It only takes a few minutes at either of the sites noted below to ensure your voice is heard. Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/-n-1NsBDf54KOu6t8mExDA

Also, the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists has an advocacy site that enables you to take action as well. If you prefer to do it from this site, please click the link below to send your message.
http://www.aana.com/advocacy/federalgovernmentaffairs/Pages/default.aspx

The new bill is scheduled to be considered on the House floor on Tuesday September 13th, so it is very important for you to contact your legislators as soon as possible on Monday 9/12/2016.

Please consider taking a few minutes to complete this important action.
Sincerely,
Your MN APRN Coalition Board