Short and sweet news from Duke Health Government Relations
07/01/2019
Happy summer! Our mission in Duke Health Government Relations is to engage, educate, and advocate. We represent Duke on health issues in Washington, DC and connect Duke Health faculty, staff, and students with federal elected officials and government agencies.
Most recently, Steve Lisberger, PhD, chair of the Department of Neurobiology, connected with Senate staff about the importance of basic science research. His outreach was key following the House's approval of report language that would limit the use of nonhuman primates in intramural research at the National Institutes of Health. The Senate hasn't yet started its work on a companion bill, and Dr. Lisberger's timely input on the value of animal models in advancing medical research is critical as the Senate begins its work. Senate staff were glad to learn more about how basic science holds the key to finding treatments, cures, and preventative therapies.
In May, several Duke Health nurse leaders attended the American Organization for Nursing Leadership Advocacy Day to inform lawmakers about the importance of federally-funded nursing workforce development programs. Denise Williams shared her experience working as Nurse Manager of Operations at Duke Regional Hospital and Duke University Hospital Inpatient Psychiatry and her concerns about access to care for patients living in rural North Carolina.
And back in February, Ira Cheifetz, MD, Executive Director and Chief Medical Officer for Duke Children's, advocated on behalf of medically complex children and their families in support of the ACE Kids Act. This bill aims to coordinate care across multiple providers and services, and ease access to out-of-state care, for kids requiring ongoing and specialized care. It was signed into law on April 18, and now patient-centered, pediatric-focused models can be covered under Medicaid for states who opt in.
If you want to engage, educate, and advocate, contact us in the Duke Health Government Relations office. Thanks for reading, and see you next time!