Thirty-three states were represented by Lobby Day attendees. This equates to 66 visits with Senators (practically two-thirds of the Senate) and dozens of visits with members of the House of Representatives. Congresspersons not visited by a Lobby Day attendee received the same informational packet from an AORN staff person who went door-to-door in the congressional office buildings.

Rep. Mac Collins (R-Georgia) received a standing ovation from AORN members during his legislative briefing to start Lobby Day. He also received a framed certificate of appreciation from AORN President Betty Shultz as an expression of gratitude for all of his legislative work for perioperative nurses. Congressman Collins introduced the Medicare CRNFA Direct Reimbursement Act (H.R. 1388) in March. As of the Memorial Day weekend break, this bill has 17 co-sponsors. Twelve of these signed on since Lobby Day, with others indicating their support pending the release of a report on RNFA reimbursement from the General Accounting Office (GAO). Also, Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada) and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) mentioned the possibility that they would consider introducing a companion bill in the Senate. At this time, however, attaching the House bill to a larger, comprehensive Medicare vehicle appears to be the most likely strategy for passage.

Regarding the GAO report, a meeting was held with the top health section officials at GAO on May 7, 2003. Representing AORN were Burke Beu, Betty Shultz, Shawn Friesen of Rep. Collins office, and Karen Sealander of McDermott, Will & Emery, AORN’s federal lobbyist. The GAO officials noted that their report will be more expansive than originally expected, but that it will indicate the appropriateness of certified RNFAs receiving direct Medicare reimbursement comparable to other clinicians currently doing so. A final report is to be released in a few weeks, but the GAO offered to communicate this information verbally to the staff of the House Ways and Means Committee.