Advocacy/Health Policy
APHON is committed to ensuring that pediatric hematology/oncology nurses are provided with the latest information on pending legislative and regulatory issues and activities impacting the profession and patients. For more information, view our health policy agenda or contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Legislative Action Center
The APHON Legislative Action Center provides federal and state legislative information about pediatric hematology/oncology patient care and nursing. Get involved by staying informed and taking action!
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Advocacy Correspondent
A quarterly offering from the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses, the newsletter's goal is to inform members about legislative and regulatory issues impacting the profession of pediatric hematology/oncology nursing and the patients we serve.
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Sign-On Letters
Sign-on letters are policy-oriented letters sent to Congress members, congressional committees, or federal agencies expressing the signatories' viewpoint.
View 2022 Sign-On Letters
Letter to House and Senate Leadership Urging Inclusion of PCHETA in End-of-Year Package
November 29, 2022
APHON joined with the Patient Quality of Life Coalition (PQLC) to ask House and Senate Leadership to include the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) in an end of the year package.
Letter to Senate Leadership Urging Passage of the legislation to stop workplace violence
November 18, 2022
As part of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), APHON joined 57 other organizations asking Senate leadership to pass the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act.
Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committees Outline Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Requests
November 15, 2022
APHON, and 61 other member organizations of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC), signed onto a letter to both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to again request at least $324.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $208.571 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 Omnibus.
Letter to Senate and House Leadership in Support of the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act
APHON and 49 other organizations signed onto a letter supporting the Sickle Cell Disease Comprehensive Care Act and requesting that it be included in any year-end health care package. This bill would direct the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to create a demonstration program in up to 10 states to improve access to comprehensive, high-quality outpatient care, including recommended clinical, mental health, ancillary, and support services, for individuals enrolled in Medicaid with SCD.
Letters to the House and Senate Co-Sponsors of the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Reauthorization Act
October 31, 2022
As part of the CAC2 Coalition, APHON signed onto two letters to the House and Senate Sponsors of the Childhood Cancer STAR Reauthorization Act, urging to pass this pill and reauthorize the program for an additional 5 years. The STAR Act expands opportunities for childhood cancer research, improves efforts to identify and track childhood cancer incidences, and enhances the quality of life for childhood cancer survivors. Originally signed into law in 2018, the STAR Act has authorized $30 million in federal funding each year for these programs.
Letter to the House Nursing Caucus Co-Chairs Thanking them for Introducing the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act
October 26, 2022
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition to endorse the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act, which would help to remove barriers in Medicare and Medicaid that prevent APRNs from practicing to the full extent of their education and clinical training. Removing these barriers would increase patients’ timely access to care from the provider of their choice.
Letter to House and Senate Leadership Urging Pass of Nursing Community Coalition Priorities
September 26, 2022
Along with 61 other members of the Nursing Community Coalition, APHON signed onto a letter requesting that specific priorities that impact the nursing workforce be passed before the end of the year. These include the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act, the Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act, and supporting the mental health, health working environments, and safety measures for the current and future nursing workforce.
Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Committees Supporting Nursing Community Coalition Funding Priorities
September 15, 2022
APHON supported the Nursing Community Coalitions request for least $324.472 million for Title VIII Nursing Workforce and Development Programs and at least $208.571 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023.
Letter to Senate Finance and House Energy and Commerce in Support of the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act
September 8, 2022
APHON joined the National Organization of Rare Diseases (NORD) and 109 other organizations in supporting the Accelerating Kids’ Access to Care Act. This bill would reduce regulatory burdens in the Medicaid program to allow children with complex medical needs greater access to out-of-state providers who can best meet their needs by creating an alternative opt-in pathway for providers to enroll in multiple state Medicaid programs.
Letter to House Sponsors in Endorsing the Clinical Trial Coverage Act of 2022
September 1, 2022
APHON joined the Alliance for Childhood Cancer in endorsing the Clinical Trial Coverage Act of 2022, which would reduce this financial barrier for families by requiring insurers to cover out-of-network routine care for a clinical trial if the provider operating the trial is not in network. Reducing this barrier will increase access for children to participate in clinical trials, which will advance better treatments and outcomes for patients with childhood cancer.
Access Archived Sign-On Letters
Coalitions
Many times, the best way to make an impact with a broad audience is to partner with a coalition that can help advance our priority issues. APHON belongs to the following coalitions:
APHON is also an active member of the Nursing Community Coalition which is comprised of 63 national professional nursing associations.