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Why Nurses Should Care About Healthcare Policy

A laptop with the words Privacy Policy and to the right is browish-black gavel resting on a round pad.

As nurses, we’re on the front lines of care delivery: interacting with patients, implementing interventions, coordinating teams, and often advocating for patients who may not fully understand the system. Because policy determines many of the conditions under which we work—from staffing and reimbursement to scope of practice, access to care, and quality standards —being aware of and involved in healthcare policy is not optional. It’s essential for:


  • Patient advocacy: Policy changes may increase or restrict patient access to services, alter coverage, or impact quality of care. When nurses know what’s happening, we can better speak up for our patients.

  • Workforce conditions: Policies affect staffing levels, training opportunities, reimbursements, and regulatory burdens — all of which impact the work environment and the care we deliver.

  • Practice environment: Whether it’s through changes in reimbursement (for example, Medicare/Medicaid), regulation changes (licensing, scope of practice), or broader health system shifts (value-based care, technology), many of our day-to-day roles are influenced by policy.

  • Professional leadership & voice: Nurses bring a vital perspective to policy discussions because we see the realities of care delivery. By being informed and engaged, we can influence decisions rather than react to them.

  • Future of the profession: Healthcare is evolving rapidly. Policies around workforce, technology (e-health, AI), long-term care, and more will shape the trajectory of nursing roles, education, and career opportunities.


In short, policy isn’t something "over there" in Washington or the state capitol. It directly touches patient care, safety, access, and the professional lives of nurses. 


Basic Definitions for Nurses to Know: Policy, Policy Briefs, Legislation


Before diving into current happenings, let’s define some key terms in plain language:


  • Healthcare policy: Decisions and actions taken by governments (federal, state, and local) and regulatory agencies (e.g., the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services or state health departments) that shape how healthcare is organized, paid for, regulated, and delivered. It contains a specific focus, with objectives to achieve the desired outcome.

  • Legislation: Laws passed by legislative bodies (Congress at the federal level, state legislatures at the state level) that set legal requirements, funding mechanisms, or structural changes in healthcare. Once signed, legislation becomes law (unless challenged).

  • Regulation/Rulemaking: After legislation is passed (or sometimes independently), agencies develop regulations or rules to implement that law. These often specify how the law operates (who qualifies, how payment works, what standards must be met).

  • Policy brief: A concise document, often 1-4 pages, designed to summarize a policy issue, outline the implications (for stakeholders, including patients and providers), and present recommendations or options for action. Policy briefs are often used by advocacy groups, associations, or government agencies to inform lawmakers, stakeholders, or decision-makers.

  • Advocacy/Stakeholder involvement: When individuals or groups (nurses, patients, providers, associations) influence policy through various means, such as contacting lawmakers, testifying, public comment, professional association positions, or grassroots efforts.


So, when you see a “policy brief,” think of it as a distilled, actionable summary of a complex policy issue aimed at decision-makers. For nurses, understanding policy briefs helps us quickly grasp what’s at stake and which actions might be helpful.



What’s Happening Now in Healthcare Legislation & Policy


Below are some of the key developments and trends worth watching — especially relevant to nursing and care delivery.


1. Long‐term care, workforce, Medicaid & reimbursement


The American Health Care Association (AHCA) recently released its 2025 policy priorities (“**The Better Way”), which include:


  • Strengthening the long-term care workforce (addressing nursing school faculty shortages, incentives for caregivers, and career ladder opportunities).

  • Protecting Medicaid funding and ensuring reimbursement meets the actual cost of care.

  • Reaffirming the promise of Medicare Advantage (improving transparency, patient/professional choice) and rationalizing the regulatory environment (e.g., reforming the Five-Star rating system for nursing homes). (AHCA/NCAL, 2025)


Why nurses should care:

  • If reimbursement is inadequate, facilities may cut staffing or services, which directly affects the quality of care and nurses' working conditions.

  • Workforce shortages influence workloads, burnout risk, and turnover — all nursing concerns.

  • Regulatory changes might shift hiring/training standards or the scope of practice expectations.


2. Federal & state policy monitoring


Organizations like Avalere Health (through their “Federal and State Policy” tracking) emphasize that states remain major arenas for novel policy approaches (especially around access, insurance coverage, and AI oversight) (Avalere Health, 2025).


Also, the timeline of policy updates from the Advisory Board (Healthcare Policy Updates) highlights major issues such as rising ACA premiums, anticipated changes to Medicare/Medicaid rules, and state-level oversight of AI in healthcare. (Advisory Board, n.d.)


Why nurses should care:

  • State-level policy often affects nursing licensure, scope of practice, reimbursement for nursing services, Medicaid eligibility, and payment — all of which vary state by state.

  • Emerging issues such as AI in healthcare or telehealth regulation will affect workflows, care models, and possibly nursing roles.


3. Access, coverage, and insurance dynamics


For example, the federal budget reconciliation law for 2025 included provisions for Medicaid health coverage/support. (See a source such as the Kaiser Family Foundation report on Medicaid health provisions in the 2025 reconciliation law.)

Why nurses should care:

  • Changes in coverage mean changes in patient populations (who shows up, insurance status), acuity of care, and possibly higher uncompensated care.

  • If reimbursement changes, facilities might adjust services, staffing or care pathways, impacting nursing practice.


4. Regulatory & oversight reform


The “rationalizing the regulatory environment” priority from AHCA underscores how regulation (survey processes, staffing mandates, rating systems) is up for review (AHCA/NCAL, 2025).

Additionally, policy research shows that federal advisory committees (which help shape public health guidance) are undergoing reform, potentially shifting how clinical practice standards are developed (The Conference Board, n.d.).

Why nurses should care:

  • Regulations shape many aspects of nursing practice—staffing ratios, credentialing, quality metrics, and reporting burdens.

  • If how those regulations are developed or implemented changes, the downstream effect may be significant in how care is delivered or how nursing roles are structured.



What Nurses Can Do — Being Informed and Engaged


Here are action-oriented suggestions to help nurses stay current and involved.


Stay Informed


  • Make use of reputable sources of policy news and updates. For example:

    • The Advisory Board’s “Healthcare Policy Updates” section (Advisory Board, n.d.).

    • Avalere Health’s “Federal and State Policy” insights (Avalere Health, 2025).

    • Professional associations (nursing associations, long-term care associations) that publish policy briefs and advocacy toolkits (e.g., AHCA’s “The Better Way” resources) (AHCA/NCAL, 2025). 

    • Policy Report shows state health legislation (Policy Report, 2025)

    • KFF is a health policy organization (KFF, n.d.).


  • At the state level: Monitor your state nursing board, your state’s legislature health committees, and your state’s Medicaid/health care agency for upcoming bills or rulemaking.

Interpret Policy Briefs


When you receive or see a policy brief:

  • Look for: What’s the problem being addressed? Who is affected (patients, providers, payers, workforce)? What are the proposed solutions or recommendations?

  • Think through: How will this affect your practice, your team, your patients?

  • Consider: Are there suggestions for action (e.g., contact your legislator, submit a comment, engage in a survey)?


Engage & Advocate


  • Share your professional perspective: As a nurse, you see the patient care implications of policy decisions. Offer that viewpoint through your institution’s advocacy office, nursing leadership, or professional association.

  • Stay alert for “calls to action” from associations (e.g., contacting state legislators, submitting comments on rule-making).

  • Consider participating in local professional groups, coalitions, or advocacy efforts—especially on issues such as workforce shortages, reimbursement, access to care, and nursing practice scope.

  • Encourage nursing students and new nurses to understand policy implications — building a pipeline of policy-aware nurses is part of workforce strengthening.


Connect Policy to Your Educational/Department Mission


Since you are in the nursing department at Utica, you might:

  • Incorporate policy brief reviews into your curriculum or seminars — for example, have students analyze a recent policy brief and discuss nursing implications.

  • Invite speakers (from state/regional nursing associations or healthcare policy organizations) to talk with faculty and students about emerging policy trends.

  • Foster student/clinician engagement in policy advocacy as part of professional development.


Closing Thoughts


Healthcare is not static. Changes in legislation, regulations, reimbursement, and workforce policy are underway—and they affect nurses in very real and tangible ways. By understanding the language of policy, the mechanisms by which it is developed (legislation → regulation → implementation), and by staying engaged, nurses can:

  • Be proactive rather than reactive in the shifting healthcare environment.

  • Advocate effectively for their patients, their practice settings, and the nursing profession.

  • Influence outcomes—whether that’s better staffing, improved access to care, or higher-quality practice environments.



References


Advisory Board. (n.d.). Healthcare policy updates timeline. Advisory Board. https://www.advisory.com/topics/policy-and-payment/healthcare-policy-timeline?


American Health Care Association & National Center for Assisted Living. (2025). The better way. AHCA/NCAL. https://www.ahcancal.org/Advocacy/Pages/The-Better-Way-Agenda.aspx?utm_source


Avalere Health. (2025). Federal and state policy. Avalere Health. https://advisory.avalerehealth.com/policy?utm


KFF. (n.d.). Health policy in the US. KFF. https://www.kff.org/about-us/


Policy Reporter. (2025). State legislation data. https://www.policyreporter.com/solutions/state-legislation-data/




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