Letters of Support

ONS joins with our smoking cessation coalition partners in submitting comments to the FDA regarding changes to the current statutory warnings on smokeless tobacco products. In a letter to the Agency, the coalition raises awareness about promoting greater public understanding of the risks associated with the use of smokeless tobacco products.

ONS joins Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) in sending this letter to the US House of Representatives and US Senate urging full funding for the Title VII and Title VIII programs in a FY 2013 omnibus. HPNEC also submitted a letter to the President thanking him for his longstanding support of the programs and the administration to continue to prioritize investments in these programs in FY 14.

ONS joins more than 430 healthcare groups nationally by sending a letter to both the US House of Representatives and the US Senate recommending funding of $65 billion for discretionary public health and health research programs (Function 550) in the FY 2014 budget resolution. In developing these recommendation, the coalition strived to balance the need to reduce the deficit without compromising Americans’ immediate and long-term health needs.

ONS joins the 51 members of the Nursing Community, a forum comprised of national professional nursing associations that builds consensus and advocates on a wide spectrum of healthcare and nursing issues, to express overwhelming support of Marilyn Tavenner, RN, MHA, for the position of Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). With great respect for Ms. Tavenner’s exceptional qualifications, we are enthusiastic to see her nomination to this federal leadership role.

ONS signed and sent the following letters to the US House of Representatives and the US Senate opposing recent legislation that would exempt certain tobacco products, including cigars, from oversight of the FDA. Such products are marketed to youth, encouraging tobacco use, and contributing to increased cancer incidents.

ONS joins coalition partners in asking HHS Secretary Sebelius to support elements of the PPACA in CMS regulations. In particular, those confronting Essential Health Benefits and smoking cessation coverage and treatment programs.

ONS joins other smoking cessation and health organizations in asking the Commissioner of Food and Drugs to initiate a rulemaking proceeding to alter the text of the statutorily-required smokeless tobacco product warning statement. We urge that the Petition be denied by the Food and Drug Administration and that smokeless tobacco products continue to be regulated as harmful.

ONS joins coalition partner One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC), in urging Congress to avoid across the board budget cuts, through sequestration or another process, that would stall progress made and harm future efforts to improve the prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer.

ONS joins coalition partners in support of legislation, HR 4120, the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act, that eliminates unintended obstacles to cancer screenings.

ONS joins our coalition partners representing APRNs and RNs in urging CMS to modify and finalize the CY 2013 Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule to restore direct Medicare reimbursement for chronic pain management services provided by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).

ONS joins the Nursing Community coalition in sending a letter to Congress urging federal support for funding to the Nursing Workforce Development programs (Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act). Without continued support, fewer nursing students, practicing nurses, and nurse faculty members would be streaming into the workforce pipeline, causing a national shortage of nurses in the United States for the near future.

ONS joins coalition partners in advocating to CMS for insurance coverage for cancer patients enrolled in clinical trials.

ONS joins our coalition partners in a letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius regarding comments on CMS-9965-P, the notice of Data Collection to Support Standards Related to Essential Health Benefits. These comments will specifically address Appendix G of the Paperwork Reduction Act Appendix (CMS-1032).

ONS joins our smoking cessation partners in a letter to Congress regarding federal appropriations. This letter reasserts the coalitions support for stronger FDA oversight on tobacco products, through legislative authority for regulatory powers.

ONS joins the Nursing Community coalition by sending a formal letter of support to the Senate Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee reiterating several requests for FY 2013.

ONS joins more than 100 other national cancer organizations in support of federal funding for research through the NIH. This letter, sent to Congressional leadership, highlights the importance of continued investment to help advance the nation’s health.

ONS joins smoking cessation partners in urging Congress to maintain the strength in the legislation for the FDA regarding the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act) and tobacco products.

ONS joins the PARTNERS coalition partners in a letter to Ambassador Ron Kirk, the U.S. Trade Representative, in support of the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement (TPP), on tobacco and trade.

ONS joins nursing coalition in championing of the Federal Trade Commission’s issuance of support for appropriate scope of practice issues for nurses.

ONS joins 3.1 million American nurses celebrating the extraordinary work of their colleagues and commends the U.S. Congress for its acknowledgement of the integral role nurses have in healthcare by announcing the annual National Nurses Week.

ONS joins CPR colleagues in sending a letter of support to the Federal Trade Commission on pending state legislation and proposed state regulations in Missouri, Kentucky, and Maine which would affect the practice of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and other licensed, qualified healthcare professionals.

ONS joins the Nurse Community Testimony for the House LHHS Appropriations Subcommittee (signed by 41 organizations) and the Nursing Community letter to the Senate LHHS Appropriators (signed by 50 organizations) in support of federal funding for nursing workforce and education.

ONS joins the Friends of HRSA coalition in asking for Congress to fund nurse education.

ONS joins coalition in opposing Senate Bill 1416 that would exempt cigars from regulation under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, P.L. 111-31. To Jeff Sessions | To Lamar Alexander

ONS joins coalition partners in commenting to HHS on the Essential Health Benefit section of the PPACA regarding tobacco cessation coverage.

ONS joins a coalition with these letters relating to insurance coverage of clinical trials in the PPACA. To Steven Larsen | To Marilyn Tavenner

ONS joined with our coalition leader, OVAC, to sent this letter to the US House and Senate appropriator, calling on them to complete the FY 2012 Labor-HHS appropriations bill, as the funding is essential to oncology nursing, and other healthcare providers.

ONS joins the Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) in support of continuing appropriations for all Title VII and VIII programs.

Support for increased funding in fiscal year (FY) 2012 for the Nursing Workforce Development programs authorized under Title VIII of the Public Health Service Act

H.R. 2746, the Cancer Drug Coverage Act of 2011, supporting adequate health insurance coverage for all Americans diagnosed with cancer; including oral anti-cancer medications.

H.R. 1639, legislation exempting many cigars from regulation under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act

Coalition for Health Funding and the Committee for Education Funding letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees

An ONS support letter for permitting states to obtain federal Medicaid matching funds for the cost of tobacco cessation services provided by quitlines. Tobacco cessation quitlines have proven to be an effective way to help smokers quit. Ensuring Medicaid coverage of tobacco cessation quitlines will improve access to these services.

A letter to the Super Committee expressing the nursing community’s support of the HHS programs as Congress considers the fiscal recommendations.

One Voice Against Cancer (OVAC) coalition letter to the US House of Representatives in support of federal funding for the NIH under the FY12 Labor-HHS Chairman’s Mark for the Appropriations bill.