Many of our US members, on behalf of our patients, have expressed concerns as to what will happen with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and the patient protections that it provides. The biggest concern is the fear that the bill will be repealed without a suitable replacement program. ASPEN wants to ensure that health care coverage is accessible and affordable to all patients. Our ASPEN Public Policy Agenda objectives include active advocacy for high priority issues pertaining to nutrition support, including working in coalition with other like-minded organizations, as appropriate. Our advocacy also includes working with Congress, the Executive branch, public/private groups, and the courts to:
- Advocate for optimal nutrition as a national patient safety issue and optimal nutrition as a national patient safety goal.
- Work on patient access to nutrition care through changing reimbursement.
- Improve nutrition support therapy by minimizing product shortages.
- Improve the safety and quality of all patients/consumers receiving nutrition support therapy, resulting in improved patient outcomes.
- Advocate for fair reimbursement to ensure that beneficiaries of government funded health programs receive the highest quality nutrition support care.
- Sponsor the concept of a fair marketplace that does not jeopardize the provision of safe and quality nutrition support.
- Promote continued federal funding for nutrition and metabolic research, education, and training and dissemination of same.
- Advocate for health system reform that benefits the efficacious delivery of nutrition support.
- Promote an interdisciplinary approach to the nutrition care of patients.
- Support reimbursement for nutrition clinician services to improve patient care.
The ASPEN Public Policy Committee will continue to advocate to meet these objectives and share our efforts and calls to action with the membership, particularly as the new administration and Congress begin their work. Since bills to repeal the ACA have already been introduced in this new Congress, reach out to your Senators and Representative and let them know what you want for your patients.
