2025 Policy Actions

The Academy joined an amicus brief with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and other health care organizations for the case Planned Parenthood v. Kennedy. This case involves a provision of H.R. 1 which defunds Planned Parenthood and several other large health care options that offer reproductive health care services by making them ineligible for reimbursement under Medicaid.

The Academy joined 57 members of the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) in a letter to leaders of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the House Committee on Energy & Commerce thanking them for the passage of the SUPPORT for Patients and Communities Act of 2025. This act strengthens prevention, treatment, and recovery services for those struggling with substance use disorders and co-occurring mental illness, bolstering vital access to lifesaving support.

The Academy joined an amicus brief with the American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG) and other health care organizations for the case AAP v. Kennedy. This case challenges the directive of HHS Secretary Kennedy to remove healthy children and pregnant women from the CDC recommended immunization schedules for the COVID-19 vaccine.

The Academy joined an amicus brief with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations related to an appeal in the case PFLAG v. Trump. This case addresses President Trump's Executive Order to ban gender-affirming medical care for patients under nineteen.

The Academy joined over 350 organizations on a letter to Congress led by the Disability and Aging Collaborative urging the passage of the Protecting Healthcare and Lowering Costs Act of 2025 (S.2556/H.R.4849). This legislation would repeal the harmful cuts to Medicaid in H.R. 1, restore Medicaid, Medicare, and Affordable Care Act (ACA) funding and programs, and protect millions of low and middle income Americans by making the enhanced premium health care tax credits permanent.

The Academy joined 40 members of the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) in a letter to Congressional leadership urging the extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities. This would extend certain pandemic-related telehealth capabilities, including waivers to geographic and originating site restrictions, expansions to the list of eligible practitioners, eligibilities for federally qualified health centers and rural health clinics, and allowing telehealth to be provided through audio-only telecommunications. 

The Academy joined 36 members of the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) in a letter to Congressional leadership urging the extension of the enhanced premium health care tax credits as a part of the government funding that expires on September 30th. These credits help make health insurance more affordable and accessible by lowering the monthly premiums for Americans who buy coverage in the state and federal Marketplaces. 

The Academy joined over 250 organizations in a letter to leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees expressing support for the work of the Joint Associations Group on Indirect Costs (JAG)'s efforts to develop a new, more transparent model for supporting essential research costs. The letter thanked appropriators for including language in some of the spending bills and reports to date, and urged strengthening language in the final spending bills supporting the JAG work and prohibiting the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) from instituting arbitrary caps on federal support for research costs.

The Academy joined an amicus brief with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations related to an appeal in the case Washington v. Trump. This case challenges President Trump’s Executive Order to ban gender-affirming care for patients under 19. 

The Academy joined 35 members of the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) on a letter to Rep. Donald Beyer (D-VA) and Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) in support of the Barriers to Suicide Act of 2025 (H.R.3505). This act would establish a grant program to help states, localities and Tribal governments provide life-saving nets and barriers on bridges, buildings, and other high-risk structures.

The Academy submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule. The comments highlighted considerations for telehealth access; behavioral health integration with primary care; and the assessment for determinants of health.

The Academy joined 179 organizations on a letter led by the the United States Breastfeeding Coalition (USBC) urging leaders of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to increase funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Hospitals Promoting Breastfeeding program to $20 million in Fiscal Year 2026.

The Academy sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions requesting the committee exercise its Congressional oversight of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to investigate recent events related to vaccine policy and ensure that future decisions from the agency are scientifically based and evidence-informed. 

The Academy joined 55 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter to the U.S. Department of Education urging them to consider the needs of our current and future nurses when implementing H.R.1, the One Big Beautiful Bill. In particular, the NCC requests that the Department classify post-baccalaureate nursing programs under “professional” degree programs.

The Academy joined 61 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter to all members of Congress, urging them to take action on top appropriations and legislative priorities that impact nursing education, workforce, and research.

The Academy joined 62 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter to the leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee reiterating the NCC's fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding requests of at least $530 million for Title VIII, $210 million for NINR, and preserving NINR as an independent Institute within NIH in FY 2026. 

The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) is alarmed and disappointed by the enactment of the Rescissions Act of 2025 (H.R.4) that includes $9 billion in cuts of which will result in the elimination of $500 million in funding for global health programs. The Academy reaffirms our commitment to our vision of Healthy Lives for All People and will continue to call for funding to support global health programs.

The Academy submitted comments to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in response to a request for information on the NIH Artificial Intelligence (AI) Strategic Plan development. The Academy highlighted the emerging opportunities and ethical dilemmas presented by the growth of AI and considerations for factors including security, privacy, and transparency with innovations.

The Academy joined over 60 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter thanking the Senators and Representatives who introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025 (S.1874/H.R.3593), and urging its passage this Congress.

The Academy joined 66 organizations on a letter led by AcademyHealth to House and Senate leaders urging action to restore the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Healthcare Extension Service (HES) program. The HES would provide the rapid translation of patient-centered outcomes research into real-world healthcare delivery with a focus on improving behavioral health care and access, particularly in medically underserved communities.

The American Academy of Nursing (Academy) expressed its disappointment by the enactment of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which is now signed into law.

The Academy reiterated its deep concern for the changes to the Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP programs as outlined in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), which passed in the Senate on July 1, 2025.

The Academy maintained our immense concern for the changes to the Medicaid, CHIP, and SNAP programs as outlined in the Senate’s amendments to the One Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1), which will be voted on the week of June 30, 2025. 

The Academy joined over 60 other members of the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) on a letter to House leaders urging the House to protect individuals and families living with behavioral health conditions by rejecting changes to Medicaid within the budget reconciliation One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1). 

The Academy joined 137 organizations on a letter led by the Alliance for Women’s Health and Prevention (AWHP) and other women's health associations to Senate Leadership expressing deep concern and strong opposition to the Medicaid cuts proposed in the Senate Finance Committee’s budget reconciliation package, which jeopardize health and well-being and risk a reversal of decades of progress. 

The Academy joined 24 organizations on a letter to House and Senate leadership urging opposition to defunding Planned Parenthood through the budget reconciliation bill. Planned Parenthood provides over 2 million patients a year with essential, preventive reproductive health care and barring it from federal Medicaid funding would risk the closure of 200 health centers; more than 1.1 million patients could lose access to care. 

The Academy joined 46 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter thanking House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman Tim Walberg (R-MI-05) and Congressman Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) for introducing the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R.3170). This bipartisan legislation would update the federal workers’ compensation program and authorize NPs to certify disabilities and oversee treatment for injured or ill federal employees under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA). 

The Academy submitted comments to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee in response to a request for information on the impact of the budget reconciliation One Big Beautiful Bill Act passed by the House of Representatives on federal health care programs, recommending that Congress avoid cuts and take action to protect essential funding for federal health care programs. 

The Academy released a statement in response to the Supreme Court's decision in United States v. Skrmetti. Previously, the Academy joined a multi-disciplinary group of professional and health care organizations on an amicus brief in the United States v. Skrmetti case to support access to gender-affirming care.

The Academy joined over 190 organizations with the Modern Medicaid Alliance (MMA) on a letter to the Senate urging Senate Leadership to reject any cuts to Medicaid and ensure continued access to health care for millions of Americans, opposing unprecedented coverage loss and limits to care from proposed Medicaid cuts in the budget reconciliation bill. 

The Academy joined 54 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter to Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), along with Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), Mike Thompson (D-CA-04), and Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), thanking them for introducing the bipartisan Nurse Corps Tax Parity Act of 2025 (S.1548/H.R.3145).

The Academy joined over 100 organizations on an open letter against policies that would reference quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) and similar measures, which devalue people with disabilities and older adults. 

The Academy joined 53 other members of the Mental Health Liaison Group (MHLG) in a letter urging leaders of the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on the  Budget to reject House-passed changes to Medicaid within the budget-reconciliation bill. The cuts to Medicaid funding and benefits outlined in the House bill would disproportionately harm people with mental health (MH) conditions and substance use disorders (SUD). 

The Academy joined with 13 other national nursing organizations to express strong concern over the dismissal of all members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). 

The Academy sent a letter to the Senate Committee on Finance and the Senate Committee on the Budget regarding grave concerns on the substantial cuts outlined for Medicaid as a result of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) passed by the House of Representatives. These drastic cuts to Medicaid would cause substantial harm to millions of people across the United States including children, families, people with disabilities, and older adults who rely on Medicaid for their health care. The Academy strongly recommends Congress avoid cuts to this vital program and take action to protect this essential funding.

The Academy joined 53 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter thanking Representative Joe Courtney (D-CT-02) and Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) for introducing the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act (H.R.2531/S.1232).

The Academy joined over 500 organizations on a letter led by Research!America to House and Senate Appropriations leaders expressing concern about cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as laid out in the President's Fiscal Year 2025 (FY26) budget request. The budget request proposes an $18 billion cut to the NIH budget, along with the consolidation or elimination of institutes and centers without congressional hearings or public input.

The Academy joined 1,100 organizations on a letter led by the Disability and Aging Collaborative to leaders in the Senate expressing concern about the budget reconciliation One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The harmful cuts and changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in the bill would result in at least 10.9 million people becoming uninsured, including millions of people with disabilities and older adults. When factoring in expiration of ACA premium tax credits, the number of people who would become uninsured rises to 16 million.

The Academy joined 62 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a written testimony submitted to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. The testimony featured the coalition's funding requests of at least $530 million for the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs and supporting our nurse scientists and researchers throughout NIH, including preserving the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR) as an independent Institute within NIH by supporting at least $210 million for the NINR.

The Academy joined an amicus brief along with the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and other health care organizations in the case Moe v. Yost, challenging Ohio's House Bill 68 which prohibits gender-affirming care for patients under 18.

The Academy joined over 700 organizations on a letter led by the Disability and Aging Collaborative to leaders in the House of Representatives expressing concern about the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The harmful cuts and changes to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act would result in at least 13.7 million people having their coverage taken away, including millions of people with disabilities and older adults.

The Academy joined over 400 organizations on a letter to House and Senate Appropriations leaders requesting $35 million for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), $25 million for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and $1 million for the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to conduct public health research into firearm morbidity and mortality prevention in Fiscal Year (FY) 2026.

The Academy sent a letter to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and the House Committee on the Budget regarding anticipated substantial cuts to the Medicaid program as a result of the House budget resolution. This resolution instructs the Energy and Commerce Committee to reduce the federal deficit by $880 billion over ten years to the programs under its jurisdiction which includes Medicaid. Drastic cuts to Medicaid would cause substantial harm to millions of people across the United States including children, families, people with disabilities, and older adults who rely on Medicaid for their health care.

The Academy joined 63 members of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) in a letter urging Congress to take action on top appropriations and legislative priorities that impact nursing education, workforce, and research during National Nurses Week.