Bucks/Montgomery County
Legislative Report:
July 15, 2021
Submitted by: Mary E. Hanson-Zalot, Legislative Chair
Recent Updates:
1. More than half of public health workers reported experiencing symptoms of mental health
conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTST, suicidal ideation etc. according to a recent
report published in MMWR July 2, 2021. Many of the symptoms have surfaced since the
COVID-19 pandemic. The ONS perspective is that nurses are impacted as well. The
recommendation is that ONS continue to engage with policymakers to advocate for
interventions for all health care workers that center on support.
Note: In May 2021, US Representative Lauren Underwood, RN (D-IL) introduced the
Primary and Behavioral Health Care Access Act. If passed, this piece of legislations would
require private health plans to cover 3 primary care and 3 behavioral health or substance
use disorder visits/year without cost sharing.
2. On July 13, 2021, Alec Stone shared a link in his Advocacy Communication sharing a clip of
an interview with Shannon Zenk, RN, MPA, FAAN, PhD (Director of the National Institute of
Nursing Research) and Nancy Houlihan , MA, RN, AOCN (ONS President). The conversation
focused on insights related to nursing research, practice and patient-centered care.
See:
3. In June, the ACA was challenged again at the Supreme Court Level and again, a judgment was
rendered to throw out the case. Despite a lawsuit brought forth to abandon the law, there
was no injury evident to warrant the claim. The ACA remains in effect. This act currently
covers 31 million Americans.
Note: In May 2021, there was an expansion to Section 1557 of the ACA and the Title IX civil
law. This established increased protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer
(LGBTQ) people from discrimination.
4. In 2021 in the US, more than 16 million people identifying as women and girls reported
smoking. Oncology nurses can help to modify this number through teaching and offering
support services.
5. Future of Nursing Report 2020-2030 is now available. See:
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Hanson-Zalot