Health Policy & Advocacy
Historical Sign-On Letters
Sign-On letters are policy-oriented letters sent to members of Congress, congressional committees or federal agencies expressing the viewpoint of the signatories.
APHON and CIACC Send Biden-Harris Transition Letter
December 7, 2020
APHON joined a transition letter from the Coalition to Improve Access to Cancer Care (CIACC) to the Biden-Harris Administration, which introduces the coalition and the oral parity issue and highlights the importance of oral anticancer treatments, access to care, and the Cancer Drug Parity Act.
APHON Supports the STAR Act and the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative
November 24, 2020
The STAR Act and the Childhood Cancer Data Initiative were both included and fully funded in the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Subcommittee FY 2021 draft bill. The House passed legislation fully funding both during the summer and APHON joined this letter to the Senate and House to reiterate the need for full funding.
APHON Urges House and Senate to Fund CDC Sickle Cell Disease Data Collection Program
November 23, 2020
Following a congressional briefing that APHON participated in on sickle cell disease (SCD) hosted by the American Society of Hematology (ASH) and the Sickle Cell Disease Association of America (SCDAA), in conjunction with Senators Tim Scott (R-SC) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representatives Danny K. Davis (D-IL) and Michael Burgess (R-TX), APHON urged the House and Senate to fund the CDC's Sickle Cell Disease Data Collection Program.
APHON Joins Title VIII and NINR House and Senate Appropriations Letter
November 20, 2020
APHON and the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) sent a letter to the House and Senate appropriations committees requesting at least $269.972 for Title VIII Nursing Workforce and Development Programs and at least $177.976 for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) for FY 2021.
APHON and NCC Send Biden-Harris Transition Letter
November 13, 2020
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition’s (NCC) transition letter welcoming President-elect Joseph Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. The letter underscores the importance of nurses in policy discussions and the role of nurses on the transition team, specifically the COVID-19 taskforce. The letter also reiterates funding requests for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).
APHON Joins Congressional Endorsement Letter for the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act
October 27, 2020
APHON signed on to a congressional endorsement letter with the Alliance for Childhood Cancer for the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act. This legislation would ensure that all routine care costs of clinical trial participation are covered for Medicaid enrollees with life-threatening conditions, such as cancer.
APHON and NCC Urge Congressional Leaders to Support the FAAN Act
September 30, 2020
APHON and the Nursing Community Coalition urged congressional leaders to include the Future Advancement of Academic Nursing (FAAN) Act in the next COVID-19 package. The FAAN Act was introduced by nurses in Congress, Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14), and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX-30), and Nursing Caucus Co-Chair Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR).
APHON, NCCN, ASH, and Others Support Funding for the WHO
September 11, 2020
Following the July letter organized by NCCN urging the US to remain in the World Health Organization (WHO), APHON joined NCCN, ASH, ACS CAN, HOPA and others to support funding for the WHO. This letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and key committee members.
APHON Joins Letter Welcoming the New NINR Director, Dr. Shannon Zenk
August 31, 2020
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition’s letter welcoming the new National Institute of Nursing Research’s (NINR) Director, Dr. Shannon Zenk. This is part of APHON’s efforts to promote the work of nurse scientists and advocate for investments in research.
APHON and NCC Reiterate Importance of Title VIII and Other COVID-19 Priorities to Congress
August 18, 2020
APHON and the Nursing Community Coalition reiterated their shared priorities, including Title VIII, in a letter sent to House and Senate leadership and key congressional committees outlining priorities for any COVID-19 legislative package.
APHON Supports Rural Health and Telehealth Access to Oral Chemotherapy
August 14, 2020
Through CIACC, APHON joined the letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar urging HHS to consider oral chemotherapy access as they implement the Executive Order on Improving Rural Health and Telehealth Access. This is particularly important as it is related to telehealth expansion during the COVID-19 pandemic.
APHON and CIACC Send Oral Parity and Pandemic Preparedness Letter to Senate HELP Committee Chairman
APHON, NCCN, ASCO, and Others Urge the President to Keep the US in the WHO
July 16, 2020
In mid-July, APHON, ASCO, ASH, HOPA, and others joined a letter organized by NCCN urging the president to reconsider the withdrawal of the US from the World Health Organization (WHO). This reinforces APHON’s support for the WHO, an organization that is foundational to cancer care. The letter expresses support for the bipartisan Global Hope Act, which passed the House and was introduced by Reps. McCaul (R-TX) and Engel (D-NY). The Global Hope Act supports the notion that the US should work to support the WHO Initiative for Childhood Cancer goals, which helps increase survival rates for children with cancer.
June 26, 2020
Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) in response to the Preparing for the Next Pandemic white paper. The letter advocates for the Cancer Drug Parity Act and oral chemotherapy and expanded access to care during COVID-19 and beyond in future pandemics and public health emergencies.
APHON Joins the Alliance for Childhood Cancer's Creating Hope Reauthorization Act Letter to the Senate
June 26, 2020
This Senate letter supports permanently reauthorizing the FDA priority review voucher program to incentivize pharmaceutical manufacturers to invest in drugs with indications for rare pediatric diseases through the Creating Hope Act Reauthorization Act.
APHON Sends Letter to Appropriators Reiterating FY 2021 Funding Request
June 22, 2020
APHON signed on to the Nursing Community Coalition letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education reiterating our shared funding request of at least $278 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and at least $182 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2021.
APHON Sends Funding Letters to House and Senate for DOD Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program
June 2020
Through the Alliance for Childhood Cancer, APHON sent funding letters to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense supporting the Department of Defense’s (DOD) Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP). The request includes an increase to $130 million for PRCRP and the continued inclusion of pediatric brain tumors and neuroblastoma as eligible topics of funding under the program.
APHON Contacts the White House for Nursing Mental Health During COVID-19
May 19, 2020
Several nursing organizations, including APHON and led by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, submitted a letter to the White House as a call to action for psychological first aid for nurses on the frontline of COVID-19 patient care. The letter was also shared with Health and Human Services and Congress, as well as state governors, as activating and deploying this aid, would require state action.
APHON Submits Testimony to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
April 23, 2020
APHON joined sixty members of the Nursing Community Coalition and signed on to written testimony submitted to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony included funding requests of $278 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and $182 million for the National Institute for Nursing Research for Fiscal Year 2021.
APHON Joins the Alliance for Childhood Cancer’s FY21 NIH Appropriations Requests to House and Senate
March 9, 2020
APHON signed on to the Alliance’s FY21 NIH appropriations requests, calling for increases in funding for medical research: $3 billion for the NIH and $500 million for the NCI. A request for $30 million to fund the initiatives set forth in the Childhood Cancer Survivorship, Treatment, Access, and Research (STAR) Act was included.
APHON Sends PRIs Letter to House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees
February 27, 2020
APHON joined with the American Association for Clinical Chemistry to support pediatric reference intervals (PRIs) with a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. It includes a recommendation that Congress provides the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Environmental Health Laboratory with an additional $10 million in FY 2021 to initiate and advance this essential work.
APHON Sends Letter to Congress Outlining Additional COVID-19 Priorities
April 28, 2020
APHON and fellow Nursing Community Coalition members sent a letter to House and Senate leadership thanking them for their work to combat COVID-19 and outlining additional priorities for future COVID-19 legislation.
APHON Comments on Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
September 27, 2019
Through the Patient Quality of Life Coalition, APHON submitted comments on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule. The comments were submitted to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and provide a variety of recommendations in support of increasing access to palliative care services.
APHON Joins the Nursing Community Coalition Letter to Senate HELP Committee Urging Them to Advance Title VIII
September 5, 2019
APHON joined all members of the NCC and signed on to a letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee urging them to consider and advance Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2019 (S.1399).
APHON joined the Patient Quality of Life Coalition in commenting on the Pain Management Best Practices Draft Report
April 2019
The overall comments focused on ensuring that pain management policies continued to address the opioid epidemic and to ensure patients with serious illnesses had access to pain medications
APHON sent a letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee
April 2019
The letter commented on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies supporting $10 million in fiscal year 2020 to help generate pediatric reference intervals from existing clinical samples. This funding would help create a more standard reference interval for a more accurate diagnosis.
APHON Joins Comments To Address America’s Rising Health Care Costs
March 2019
APHON joined the Patient Quality of Life Coalition in responding to the Senate Health Education Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee’s request for information on ways to address health care costs. PQLC supported efforts to increase access to palliative and hospice care services as a way to lower health care costs.
APHON Supports Access to Care
December 2018
APHON joined a letter that supported H.R. 6836, the CLINICAL TREATMENT Act. This bill would require that Medicaid cover routine costs associated with participation in clinical trials.
American Academy of Nursing
February 2018
Position Statement from the American Academy of Nursing
APHON supported a position statement on full practice authority for advanced practice registered nurses written by the American Academy of Nursing.
View press release and full position statement
Alliance for Childhood Cancer
March 2018
APHON Supports Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition in asking the Department of Defense for funding for the Peer Reviewed Cancer Research Program and encourage Congress to ultimately establish a separate program for young adult, adolescent, and pediatric cancers. Any new developments that result from this research program will affect providers and patients alike, changing the way that cancer is treated and how to provide survivorship care to cancer survivors.
APHON Supports Cancer Funding
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition in encouraging the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health & Human Services to increase funding for various programs and institutes (National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute). Specifically, the letter asks for a $2 billion increase for the National Institutes of Health plus a $215 million increase from 21st Century Cures funding for a total of over $38 billion and an over $400 million increase for the National Cancer Institute for a total of over $6.2 billion.
Nursing Community Coalition
November 2018
APHON Supports Title VIII Reauthorization
The Title VIII NURSE Corps Loan Repayment Program, one of the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs, was created to assist those nurses who are willing to work in the areas with critical staffing needs and depressed salaries. A last minute provision to add for-profit facilities in the program could put the entire program in jeopardy. APHON joined with the Nursing Community Coalition to support Title VIII Reauthorization as it currently stands.
January 2018
Title VIII Funding
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition in asking the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to fund each the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) with at least the levels proposed by the Senate's Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee bill totaling $234.472 million for Title VIII programs and $155.210 million for NINR in FY 2018.
Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2017
APHON joined the Nursing Community Coalition in asking the House Energy and Commerce Committee and the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee to make the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Authorization Act of 2017 (HR 959 and S 1109, respectively) a priority during the second session of the 115th Congress. Support for this would reauthorize Title VIII funding through 2020.
Sickle Cell Disease Coalition
February 2018
Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act (H.R. 2410)
APHON joined the Sickle Cell Disease Coalition to support the Sickle Cell Disease Research, Surveillance, Prevention, and Treatment Act (H.R. 2410). This legislation would give the Centers for Disease Control the authority to carry out programs related to SCD, the complications related to the disease, and sickle cell trait.
Patient Quality of Life Coalition
September 218
APHON Supports Revisions to Payment Policies
APHON supported a letter that proposed changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and the Quality Payment Program in order to better support care for patients with serious illnesses and chronic conditions.
APHON Supports Access to Pain Medications For Hospice and Palliative Care
APHON supported a letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid supporting changes to opioid policy, but proposed several guiding principles to ensure that cancer patients and others with serious illnesses would be exempt from opioid exemptions.
APHON Provides Comments to Senate HELP Committee on Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018
April 2018
APHON joined the Patient Quality of Life Coalition in providing a response to the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018. The letter noted that PQLC supported efforts the efforts in the bill but asked for Congress to consider the needs of hospice and palliative care patients.
Alliance for Childhood Cancer
February 2017
Protect Coverage for Children with Cancer and their Families
APHON joined members of the Alliance for Childhood Cancer in urging Congressional leaders to protect coverage for children with cancer and their families, as changes to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and other health care programs are debated.
Healthcare
September 2017
APHON Concerned with Provisions in Right to Try Legislation
APHON joined patient and provider groups urging Congress to facilitate discussion and consideration of alternative policies that would genuinely increase access to promising investigational therapies.
APHON Calls on Congress to Extend CHIP Funding
APHON joined other advocates for children and pregnant women in urging Congress to enact a five-year extension of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) which provides high-quality, cost-effective coverage for low-income children and pregnant women in working families.
June 2017
APHON Concerned with Changes to Medicaid
APHON joined other organizations with concern about potential changes to the fundamental structure and purpose of Medicaid.
APHON Supports Expanded Access Principles
As policymakers debate changes to the way in which unapproved therapies are accessed, APHON agrees that changes should adhere to the principles outlined the document.
American Academy of Pediatrics
April 2017
APHON Supports BPCA/PREA Recommendations
APHON joined the American Academy of Pediatrics and other organizations in support of recommendations to strengthen the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act/Pediatric Research Equity Act.
Center to Advance Palliative Care
April 2017
APHON Supports Recommendations for Pediatric Alternative Payment Model
APHON joined an initiative from the Center to Advance Palliative Care to provide recommendations to CMS on the development of a Pediatric Alternative Payment Model.
Nursing Community Coalition
May 2017
APHON Concerned with Proposed Budget Cuts
APHON joined members of the Nursing Community in a statement expressing concerns with deep cuts to the Nursing Workforce Development Programs (Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act).
March 2017
APHON Supports Fiscal Year 2018 Funding Request
APHON supported testimony provided by the Nursing Community to the U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies requesting $244 million for the HRSA Nursing Workforce Development programs and $160 million for the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR).
February 2017
APHON Supports Title VIII Reauthorization
APHON joined with the Nursing Community in a statement commending the reintroduction of the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act.
January 2017
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Support
APHON joined with members of the Nursing community in urging the Department of Veterans Affairs to include Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists as part of its full implementation of the final rule pertaining the practice of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.
January 2017
Introductory Letter to Congress
APHON joined with members of the Nursing Community in a letter to the House and Senate outlining the core principles of the coalition and highlighting its policy agenda.
December 2016
Support of Policy Principles
APHON joined with members of the Nursing Community in a letter to the Presidential Transition Team outlining the core principles of the coalition and highlighting its policy agenda.
Patient Quality of Life Coalition
March 2017
Reintroduction of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act
APHON joined members of the Patient Quality of Life Coalition in support of the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) which would improve the training of interdisciplinary health professionals in palliative care.