On June 16, the US Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced new federal investments in innovative, community-based practices led by nurse practitioners. Presented as part of a comprehensive primary care workforce development strategy and made possible by the Affordable Care Act, this new funding initiative will invest $15 million in nurse-managed health clinics.
The National Nursing Centers Consortium (NNCC), a PHMC affiliate, looks forward with great anticipation and excitement to the opportunities this funding will provide to nurse-managed health centers and their patients. “Nurse practitioners are ready, willing and able to step up and meet our country’s primary care needs,” said Tine Hansen-Turton, MGA, JD, Chief Executive Officer of NNCC. “By investing in nurse-managed health clinics, President Obama has shown that he understands the ability of nurse practitioners to provide cost-effective primary care. Nurse-managed health clinics will use this funding to provide health care to patients who are most in need, and increase educational opportunities for the next generation of primary care providers.”
Nurse-managed health clinics are safety net clinics that provide primary care, health promotion, and disease prevention services to patients who are least likely to receive ongoing health care. This population includes people of all ages who are uninsured, underinsured, living in poverty, or members of racial and ethnic minority groups. They are led by nurse practitioners and other advanced practice nurses who have advanced education and training that allows them to provide a broad scope of health care services similar to those of a primary care physician.
For more information on nurse-managed health clinics or NNCC, please visit www.nncc.us.
