Proposed New Rule on Accountable Care Organizations (ACO) Excludes Nurses

There is an urgent need for the Nursing community (particularly APNs) to oppose the proposed Accountable Care Organization language and payment structures, open for public comment until June 6, 2011! Please send on to other NP colleagues!
See below:

Proposed New Rule on ACOs Excludes Nurses
Although the definition of an accountable care organization (ACO) professional in a new rule proposed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services includes APNs and NPs, the rule excludes nurses in a crucial section, "D: Assignment of Medicare Fee-for-Service Beneficiaries." It states that such assignment to ACOs "is to be determined only on the basis of primary care services provided by ACO professionals who are physicians." Comments on the proposed rule are being accepted until June 6. 

This is honestly appalling and undermines the very intent of ACOs and the President's recently passed health care legislation.
Please take the time to click on the link and voice your opinion!

Colleagues, Please take a monemt to review the information and send in a comment supporting APNs. Thank you, Elaine Crain