Health Policy Agenda

NAPNAP Health Policy Agenda 2009

The guiding principles of NAPNAP’s health policy agenda are to:

• Improve the health of children through federal legislation and regulation so that all children have access to comprehensive, continuous, family-centered coordinated, compassionate, and culturally effective care, including mental health services, promotes healthy lifestyles
• Remove barriers to pediatric nurse practitioner practice in all health care settings 
• Increased commitment to national and grassroots advocacy and dedication to supporting members’ development as advocates

NAPNAP’s Health Policy Committee has identified the following goals for focused advocacy and strategic partnerships that support NAPNAP’s mission and respond to important contemporary health policy issues:

Goal #1 Improve children’s health through support and direct advocacy on the following issues:

• Preventing childhood overweight and obesity through policies that support strategies to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity levels.
• Increasing the awareness of pediatric palliative care and pain management issues.
• Ensuring that all children have access to a pediatric primary care provider such as a nurse practitioner or a physician.
• Raising awareness about children’s mental health and emotional problems and the great need for access to mental health services. 
• Encouraging development of more quality indicators focused on the health care of children.
• Supporting full funding of Medicaid and SCHIP programs. 

Goal #2 Promote access to Nurse Practitioners through support and direct advocacy on the following issues:

• Recognizing nurse practitioners as leaders of medical homes.
• Promoting increased funding for advanced practice registered nurse education and development of faculty.
• Expanding coverage and reimbursement by governmental and commercial payers for services provided by nurse practitioners.
• Ensuring nurse practitioners are permitted to participate in any federal grant programs aimed at increasing the use of health information technology and electronic medical records.
• Promoting access to a pediatric primary care provider such as a nurse practitioner or a physician for all children.

NAPNAP Executive Board approved October 25, 2008