Make Your Voice Heard
As the most trusted profession in the country, the Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association believes that nurses have a unique opportunity to make a difference in the lives of their patients through public policy.
Improving Care and Access to Nurses (I CAN) Act
Existing federal regulations and institutional rules continue to limit the full scope of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) practice, which can result in reduced access to care, increased costs, and disruptions in continuity of care, particularly in underserved areas. Given the shortage of primary care physicians, affecting 1 in 5 Americans, it is crucial that APRNs are enabled to practice to the full extent of their education and training.[1] With over 80 million Americans residing in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA), APRNs are well-positioned to address the need for increased access to care.[2]
The proposed legislation seeks to address these issues by removing certain federal barriers to APRN practice, in line with recommendations from the National Academy of Medicine.[3] The bill aims to improve access to care, enhance the quality of health care services, and reduce costs within Medicare and Medicaid programs.
Specifically, this bill:
- Allows Nurse Practitioners to order and supervise cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation and home infusion under Medicare;
Allows Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to fulfill documentation requirements for Medicare coverage of therapeutic shoes for individuals with diabetes;
Allows Nurse Practitioners to (re)certify eligibility for hospice care programs under Medicare and have Medicare and Medicaid patients admitted to a hospital under their care;
Authorizes Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) to practice without physician supervision under Medicare;
Allows Nurse Anesthetists to order, certify, and refer medically necessary Medicare services when legally authorized;
Allows Certified Nurse Midwives to certify Medicare beneficiaries for home health services;
Authorizes Certified Nurse Midwives to issue a prescription for durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies to Medicare beneficiaries; and
Ensures that patients of Nurse Practitioners fully benefit from the Medicare Shared Savings Program, and more.
Read the full text of the bill and contact your legislators today!
[1] Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN). (n.d.). American Nurses Association. Retrieved April 3, 2025, from https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/aprn/
[2] Bilazarian A, Martsolf G, Schlak AE, Hovsepian V, Liu J, Poghosyan L. Primary care practice structural capabilities in health professional shortage areas. Am J Manag Care. 2022 May;28(5):212-217. doi: 10.37765/ajmc.2022.89142. PMID: 35546584.
[3] National Academy of Medicine (2021). The Future of Nursing: Recommendations for Research Priorities. The Future of Nursing 2020-2023: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity (pp. 355-376). National Academies Press.
