Update concerning VA regulation on APRN practice

Update concerning VA regulation on APRN practice

Background:
As many of you know, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has been considering an updated policy to allow advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) working in the VHA to practice to their full practice authority.

On January 8th, the draft regulation to implement this policy was transmitted to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), a statutory part of OMB within the Executive Office of the President. OIRA is the United States Government's central authority for the review of Executive Branch regulations.

OMB clearance of the rule is required before VA can publish this regulation for public comment in the Federal Register. We won't know what this regulation says, or the specific actions VA is proposing, until the regulation is published for public comment. Once published, the nursing community and others will have an opportunity to review the proposed regulation and comment on the document (either expressing support for the proposed rule or recommending changes, depending on what is proposed).

Status of the proposed regulation:
According to the OMB website, this regulation on APRN practice was formally transmitted to OMB on January 8th and is now included on OMB's "List of Regulatory Actions Currently Under Review" – see http://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/eoDetails?rrid=125872. Once OMB clears the proposed regulation it will be published in the Federal Register for public comment. Clearance and publication will likely take place sometime in the next few months--once a rule goes to OMB the agency has up to 90 days to review it.

What can you do?
Continue to monitor ANA's advocacy website RNAction and the Veterans Access to Quality Healthcare Alliance, for information on the status of this rule and the opportunity to comment once the rule is published. Commenting on this rule will provide an opportunity for the nursing community to weigh-in on this important issue.

If you have questions, please let us know.

Michelle M. Artz
Director, Department of Government Affairs
American Nurses Association
8515 Georgia Ave., Suite 400
Silver Spring, MD 20910
michelle.artz@ana.org
office: 301-628-5098 | cell: 301-346-2478