The Veteran’s Benefits Improvement Act of 1994, PL 103-446, was signed into law in November 1994. It provided compensation on a presumptive basis to Persian Gulf veterans suffering from undiagnosed illnesses that may have resulted from service in the Persian Gulf, and ordered the VA to conduct and complete a study to evaluate the health status of spouses and children of Persian Gulf veterans by March 1, 1997. It also doubled the number of homeless veterans centers demonstration programs from four to eight and charged the Secretary to take whatever actions are necessary to ensure that federal agencies provide assistance to homeless individuals. It allowed for report of a medical examination by a private physician to be used in support of a claim for benefits and simplified requirements for reporting. Finally, the law reduced DVA’s contribution to the Federal Work Force Restructuring Act from 27,000 to 10,000 job cuts.

In 1995, 5ith the support of NOVA, Secretary Jesse Brown, and Deputy Secretary Hershel Gober, as well as with the collective wisdom of the Task Force on Reorganization of the Chief Nurse to a position of Associate Director for Nursing Service/Patient Care Services. NOVA’s outstanding report of the Advance Practice Task Force was sent to Central Office. The major issues of concern to the task force, credentialing, privileging, scope of practice, prescriptive authority, and salary, have been reviewed and are being integrated by VACO into national policy formulation. The NOVA Task Force will provide the initial infrastructure for a system wide network of APNs, addressing strategic planning and communication regarding the role and functions of Advanced Practice Nurses in the VA health care system.  On April 6, 1995, NOVA President Lynna Smith presented both written and oral testimony to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care on Veterans Health Administration’s Reorganization Proposal.

NOVA President Lynna Smith presented both written and oral testimony to the Committee on Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health Care on VHA Reorganization Proposal.