HCR: Changes on the horizon

When I graduated from nursing school, I immediately became the family’s go-to person for all medical needs. I’m sure many, if not all, can relate to this phenomenon. I used to be immediately the one that was called when someone was hurt or sick. I used to be simply expected to know the answers to all questions because I used to be an RN, even when the questions were beyond my knowledge and experience.

Over the past yr, I even have also been expected to receive answers in regards to the proposed health care reform bill. How will this affect my parents’ medical expenses? Will everyone have access to medical insurance, even those that have pre-existing conditions? Would my 25-year-old cousin who’s unemployed have access to insurance through his mother’s employer?

Last night, the US House of Representatives passed President Obama’s health care reform bill (adopted by the Senate in December). While there are still technical, political issues to be addressed before the bill becomes law, I consider it’s important that we as nurses know what this health care reform may mean within the near future and beyond. Here are some resources that I discovered helpful in understanding the small print of HCR:

• Read overview or access full pdf the President’s proposal.
• From the American Nurses Association website lists the immediate changes that will probably be visible this yr.
• In a recent post on AJN’s Off the Charts you can see an inventory of regulations related to nursing care.

Share your resources on health care reform information by leaving me a comment here. I’m sure more questions will probably be directed to me!