News You Can Use
ENA-Endorsed Fentanyl Testing Bill Reintroduced in Congress
The ENA-endorsed Tyler’s Law (H.R. 2004/S. 921) was recently reintroduced for the 119th Congress. ENA worked closely with bill sponsors Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., and Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., as they finalized language for this bill. Tyler's Law is named for Tyler Shamash, a 19-year-old from California who died due to fentanyl ingestion. He was not tested for fentanyl because the emergency department did not include it as part of the drug screen. Juli Shamash, Tyler’s mother, has been advocating for this legislation to prevent others from experiencing the same tragedy.
This bill would require the Department of Health and Human Services to study the feasibility of regularly testing overdose patients for fentanyl, and issue guidance for hospitals on the matter. Adding fentanyl to routine drug screenings in hospitals could prevent many fentanyl-related deaths, which increased by over 1,000 percent from 1999 to 2022. In 2022, 73,659 Americans died from overdoses of synthetic opioids, most of which were related to fentanyl. ENA has previously supported efforts to improve care for patients dealing with substance use issues and overdose, including the Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department Act.
Bill Reintroduced to Remove Additional Barriers for Advanced Practice Nurses
ENA joined other nursing organizations by signing a letter of support for the Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act. The ICAN Act was reintroduced on Feb. 14 by Sens. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., and Cynthia Lumms, R-Wyo., along with Reps. David Joyce, R-Ohio, and Suzanne Bonamici, D-Ore., and would remove additional barriers that still exist within Medicare and Medicaid that are preventing advanced practice registered nurses from having full practice authority. Removing these barriers will further expand access to care as it relates to advanced practice nurses in areas where care is limited.
ENA Supports Legislation to Expand Access to Nurse Preceptors
The guidance and support from nurse preceptors is essential as new nurses graduate into their roles and adapt to the hospital environment. Ultimately, this contributes to better patient care by ensuring that new nurses are properly prepared and have support in their early days as nurses.
ENA recently signed on in support of legislation related to nursing education and expanding the number of opportunities for nursing students and nurse educators. The Providing Real-World Education and Clinical Experience by Precepting Tomorrow’s (PRECEPT) Nurses Act provides for a $2,000 tax credit for anyone who serves as a nurse preceptor in a federally designated health professional shortage area. This legislation, introduced for this Congress in January by Sens. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Reps. Jennifer Kiggans, R-Va., and Jim Costa, D-Calif., and has been assigned to the House Ways & Means as well as the Senate Finance Committees.
Lawmakers Struggle with Path Forward for Federal Funding
Congress has hours to approve the next round of federal funding or risk allowing the federal government to shut down for the first time since 2019. The government is currently operating on a continuing resolution that expires at midnight Eastern time on March 14, unless Congress can come to an agreement on a new continuing resolution, which then must be signed by President Trump before that deadline.
A partial government shutdown would affect the processing of new applications for benefits like Medicare and Medicaid, unemployment and other federal functions. Essential services like health care would continue, although workers would not be compensated until the shutdown ends.
ENA Council Leaders: Got a State Bill to Track?
Contact ENA Government Relations and let us know the bill number - gov@ena.org
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