AORN JOURNAL FEBRUARY 1994, VOL 59, NO 2

The AORN Board of Directors approved a motion that a monthly one-page article be devoted to health care reform. The following is a brief review of AORNs involvement in health care reform. For more information about reform proposals, see the “Legislation” col- umn in this issue of the Journal.

1989-1990. AORN contributed to the first drafts of Nursing’s Agenda for Health Care Reform and was among the first nursing organi- zations to endorse the agenda in 1990. The charge of the AORN Legislative Committee was changed to emphasize state legislative issues rather than national issues.

1991-1992. AORN, in cooperation with the American Nurses Association (ANA), moni- tored all proposed health care reform legisla- tion to determine which bills most closely matched the provisions in Nursing’s Agenda for Health Care Reform. The Board of Direc- tors listed health care reform as a category two priority, signifying that AORN would take an official position on this issue and submit testi- mony in conjunction with ANA. AORN’s activity toward achieving RN first assistant reimbursement became part of the broader goal of increasing access to providers under the health care reform movement.

1992-1993. The Nursing Practices Com- mittee began defining “advanced practice peri- operative nurse.” The Task Force on Assistive Personnel/Work Redesign was formed. Health care reform issues were identified as a top pri- ority for AORN, meaning that AORN would provide monetary support for reform initiatives and lobby or testify when appropriate.

April 1993. AORN President Cynthia C. Spry, RN, MA, MSN, CNOR, attended the meeting of the health planning subcommittee of the President’s health care reform task force.

May 1993. Spry and Jane C. Rothrock, RN, DNSc, CNOR, represented AORN at a White

House meeting on health care reform. AORN cosponsored a governmental workshop on health care reform issues with the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, the Am- erican Society of Post Anesthesia Nurses, and the Association of Veterans Administration Nurse Anesthetists.

August 1993. Dr Rothrock; Sheri J. Voss, RN, BS, CNOR; Lola Fehr, RN, MS, CAE; and Pat Niessner Palmer, RN, MS, attended an ANA nursing summit of 63 nursing organizations in Chicago to develop strategies to position nurses for a reformed health care delivery system.

September 1993. AORN began participating in monthly health care reform conference calls with other specialty nursing associations and ANA. AORN organized and hosted a press conference at Headquarters the night President Clinton spoke to the nation about his health care reform principles. AORN received a draft of the President’s proposal. ~

October 1993. AORN signed onto testimony supporting universal access, quality, and cost- effectiveness in health care reform. Brenda s. Gregory, RN, BSN, CNOR, attended the ANA Institute of Nursing Practice, most of which was devoted to health care reform. AORN, through its ANA lobbyist Daniel J. O’Neal 111, RN, MA, CNAA, began tracking six proposed reform plans pending in Congress.

November 1993. The AORN Board of Directors voted to support President Clinton’s American Health Security Act of 1993.

At this time, AORN believes the Clinton plan best promotes the concepts in Nursing’s Agenda for Health Care Reform. AORN is ana- lyzing the entire bill and is dedicated to sup- porting the initiative that best supports profes- sional security for all health care providers while ensuring consumer health care security.

PAT NIESSNER PALMER, RN, MS DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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