Meeting with Members of Congress and staff, they urged continued support for VA’s workforce by ensuring proper funding is allocated to the Department. “Ensuring a sufficient budget will enable VA to continue to provide timely access and high-quality care to Veterans,” said  President Cathy Giasson, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC.

Focusing on NOVA’s 2024 Legislative Priority Goals, NOVA nurses discussed workforce shortages, on-boarding delays, and the need to review salaries so that VA can remain competitive with the private sector and continue to provide the highest level of care for Veterans. 

NOVA thanks all those who met and listened to our concerns and looks forward to meaningful and effective legislation addressing our priority goals.

For more about NOVA’s advocacy and our 2024 Legislative Priority Goals.

2024_nova_legislative_prior.docx (live.com)

Continues to ask Congress to Strengthen VA  

Washington D.C., January 17, 2024 – The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA), released its 2024 Legislative Priority Goals and is asking Congress to strengthen VA healthcare and support its dedicated workforce.

NOVA’s priority goals focus on funding that supports hiring, and infrastructure and addresses increasing community care costs. 

We also urge Congress and the Administration to support newly revised qualification standards for RNs and APRNs, revise pay levels for LPNs and NAs, and implement full practice authority for CRNAs.

NOVA President, Cathy Giasson, DNP, MHA, RN, NE-BC, CPHQ, noted “It is essential that VA be provided adequate funding and resources to hire and retain quality healthcare professionals – we must be able to compete with the private sector – this includes evaluating both clinical and administrative shortages and training our HR personnel to streamline the time it takes to hire.”

The VA workforce is often called to go above and beyond and continues to meet challenges every day. “We encourage Congress and the Administration to support these priorities so that VA can continue delivering timely access to the highest level of care our Veterans deserve,” she said.

NOVA continues to advocate for its healthcare professionals and believes that the VA has proven it is uniquely qualified to provide care to Veterans in a setting designed to understand those who have served and sacrificed in today’s modern military.

To see the complete list of NOVA 2024 Legislative Priority Goals

We Want You ….
To Join NOVA for Hill Day 2024

Join us for NOVA on the Hill Day, Thursday March 7, 2024, in Washington D.C. as we advocate for VA healthcare and the Veterans you serve.

As the only professional nursing organization dedicated to supporting VA nurses –
APRNs/RNs/LPNs/LVNs – NOVA needs your voice to help us strengthen VA and its workforce.

Join us and share your stories as we advocate for critical VA issues like staffing, pay, Human Resources, community care and more.

Registration is now open - Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (vanurse.org)

NOVA is not a union. It is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization.

Background:  

S. 1315, the Veterans’ Health Empowerment, Access, Leadership, and Transparency for our Heroes or (HEALTH) Act of 2023, and Draft bill, Making Community Care Work for Veterans Act were considered at a July 12, 2023, Legislative Hearing of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee. The bills expand eligibility of Veterans under the Veterans Community Care Program (VCCP). 

Three of the bills’ provisions will harm Veterans by causing large amounts of funds to be diverted from VA facilities to the private sector. This will force more reductions of VA staff, curtail in house programs, and closures of inpatient units, emergency rooms, and even entire facilities. The bills could rapidly turn the VA healthcare system from its current primary role as a provider of health care into a payer for private sector care.

NOVA, alongside many VA organizations and others submitted our thoughts on several of the bill’s provisions – to read the statement: Multiorganizational Statement for the Record SVAC Hearing July 12, 2023 .pdf (avapl.org)

Action Needed:  Call or email your Senators and urge them not to support provisions of the bills that if enacted as written, would be devasting to the Veterans – these provisions include:  

Creating “veteran preference” as a new eligibility criterion to obtain care in the community even when it is available at the VA in a timely and convenient manner (HEALTH Act)

Allowing Veterans access to private sector healthcare without any VA referral, authorization, or oversight. (HEALTH Act). What is being touted as more “choice” for Veterans would in fact diminish options for care while draining VA funds and closing programs and facilities.

The bills also do not require transparency in the private sector – on wait times, care quality or mandate that VCCP providers do any training. This in fact denies policy makers and patients accurate information they need to make well-informed healthcare decisions. 

Call or email your Senators today – urge them to protect Veterans healthcare and the VA!

For more on HEALTH ACT - BILLS-118s1315is.pdf (congress.gov)

To find your US Senators - U.S. Senate: Senators

Sample Email to use to send to Senators–Advocacy Page

We explain in our statement for the record that several bills - especially the Veterans HEALTH Act and the Veterans Healthcare Freedom Act - have the potential to vastly accelerate the outsourcing of veterans’ care to the private sector. This would drain the VA of needed funding for internal services. It would harm veterans’ choices, reduce staff, and, in turn, shutter programs, units, clinics, and medical center facilities across the country.

NOVA’s President, TJ Wilcox-Olson, said: “NOVA is deeply committed to caring for veterans and believes that the VA provides the highest level of coordinated care in a setting that understands their medical needs. These bills would leave veterans subject to the sort of fragmented care common in the private sector.”

Our multi-organizational statement reminds lawmakers that VA’s integrated model of healthcare is unique and provides veterans with the highest quality of care that addresses their complex military-related conditions. We point to data documenting that the quality of VHA healthcare surpasses private sector care on virtually every metric.

We will continue to advocate on behalf of VA nurses and patients and ask the public to contact your members of Congress and urge them to oppose any bills that privatize VA healthcare.

To watch Wednesday’s live hearing,  or, later a recorded version, click here.

For more about NOVA's advocacy, visit our 2023 Legislative Priority Goals. 

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TJ Wilcox-Olson, President said “NOVA is honored to get the opportunity to speak about these critical issues on behalf of our members who take care of Veterans across the country.”

NOVA’s testimony provides insights on HR Modernization and the need to make changes to pay at all levels of healthcare.

We point out the importance of a balance of competitive pay and scheduling flexibility to be able to compete with the private sector in recruiting top candidates.

We continue to advocate on behalf of VA nurses and look forward to more discussion around legislation that will alleviate some of the challenges the Department has in hiring and retaining quality healthcare professionals.

The hearing begins at 10:30 am ET tomorrow – Subcommittees on Health and Oversight and Investigations Joint Oversight Hearing | House Committee on Veterans Affairs

For more about NOVA’s advocacy and our 2023 Legislative Priority Goals.

2023_nova_legislative_prior.pdf (ymaws.com)

Washington D.C., May 2, 2023 – The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) believes the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 betrays Veterans and puts their healthcare in jeopardy.

The bill, passed by the House would roll back funding to FY 2022 levels.

The PACT Act, which provides healthcare and benefits to those exposed to toxins, relies on funding not provided as part of the FY 2022 budget. Veterans’ advocates worked hard to advance this historical legislation, any cuts would harm care and benefits provided in the new law.

VA Appropriators warned that the bill could slash $30 billion from programs which could mean 30 million less healthcare visits and fewer staff to take care of Veterans. Veterans Service Organizations noted that the bill provides no specific protections for Veterans or VA. 

“VA is just beginning to make advances in its hiring and onboarding efforts which is desperately needed to continue providing the highest level of care, any reduction in funding would irreparably damage many programs and services Veterans rely on, “said NOVA President TJ Wilcox-Olson, MHS, RN

NOVA urges the House to lay out how funding for VA will be protected and urges the Senate to reject any proposal that sets VA funding levels back to FY 2022.

Veterans deserve to be reassured that Congress will continue to honor the promises made to provide for those who served our nation.

To learn more about NOVA’s mission - Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (vanurse.org)

Several VA issues of importance remain on the agenda as the first session of the 118^th Congress moves into the months ahead. Funding, challenges with the electronic health record, as well as legislation that will provide the agency with the tools it needs to hire and stay competitive in today’s workforce is a priority.

NOVA remains committed to advocating for workforce issues and legislation that will strengthen VA healthcare and provide the funding essential to continue providing the best care to our nation’s Veterans.

A list of bills of interest can be found on the NOVA website -2023_nova_bills_of_interest.pdf (ymaws.com)

For more about NOVA’s advocacy and our 2023 Legislative Priority Goals.

NOVA Nurses Heading to DC to Advocate for VA Healthcare

NOVA Calls on Congress and the Administration to Strengthen VA Workforce

Washington D.C., January 31^st , 2023 – The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA), released its 2023 Legislative Priority Goals and is urging Congress and the Administration to strengthen VA healthcare by supporting its dedicated workforce.

NOVA’s priority goals, focuses on addressing clinical shortages due to HR vacancies and on-boarding delays, reviewing salaries so that VA can remain competitive with the private sector and most importantly, recruiting and retaining a highly qualified nursing workforce to ensure Veterans receive the highest level of care.

NOVA President, TJ Wilcox-Olson, RN, MHS, noted “VA must be provided adequate funding, tools, and resources to hire and retain healthcare professionals and to compete with the private sector – this has never been more crucial then today as shortages within the nursing profession remain at an all-time high. The VA workforce have been called to go above and beyond and continues to meet challenges every day. We urge Congress and the Administration to support these priorities so that VA can continue delivering the care and services our Veterans deserve,” she said.

NOVA will continue to advocate for its healthcare professionals and believes that VA has proven it is uniquely qualified to provide care to Veterans in a setting designed to understand those who have served and sacrificed in today’s modern military.

To see the entire list of NOVA 2023 Legislative Priority Goals – 2023_nova_legislative_prior.pdf

NOVA President TJ Wilcox-Olson, MHS, RN urged the new Congress to continue
supporting VA’s workforce and the Veterans they serve. “We need Congress to continue
working together to champion legislation that improves services and invests in VA’s
healthcare professionals so that we can provide the highest quality of care for our patients.”
VA continues to be confronted with shortages in healthcare providers at every level as they
struggle to compete with the private sector. Attention to the necessary changes to maintain
safe staffing levels and provide the highest quality of care for Veterans is critical.
NOVA believes that VA has proven it is uniquely qualified to provide care to Veterans in a
setting that understands their needs and complex injuries and illnesses. Its success depends
on a robust budget and support from Congress and the Administration.

Talk to your members of congress – ask them to increase the pay cap in nursing salaries so VA can remain competitive with the private sector and to ensure VA has the healthcare staff it needs to continue providing critical services to our nation’s Veterans.

Schedule a meeting with your members’ office (either virtually or in-person if applicable) in the State/District, attend a Town Hall Meeting or catch up with them at a community event.

We want to see and hear about your advocacy - send us your thoughts and photos via social media.  #NOVA2021AugustRecess

As the 117^th Congress continues debating critical issues like VA funding, staffing, community care and mental health services, now is your time to speak up for all VA nurses and our nation’s Veterans!

Kelly Skinner, NOVA President, remarked, “I strongly encourage everyone to contact your members of congress during August recess. You are the healthcare professionals taking care of Veterans at VA facilities around the country. It is important to remind them what you do every day for Veterans and the communities you serve.” 

For information on how to locate your members offices, scheduling a meeting (virtually or in person), 2021 Legislative Priority Goals, and much more: NOVA Advocacy Toolkit (vanurse.org).

To register for NOVA’s Annual Meeting click here.

The Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize all Veterans and Every Spouse Act(SAVE LIVES Act) was passed quickly with bi-partisan support from House and Senate VA Committee leaders - Chairman Mark Takano (D-CA), Ranking Member Mike Bost (R-IL), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-KS).

NOVA President, Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN, offered NOVA’s support noting “As nurses, we are encouraged that this legislation will open the door to allow all veterans, caregivers and others to receive a vaccine at VA facilities nationwide. We believe this is critical in helping all of us to protect each other and our communities. We applaud the Committee leaders for getting this done so quickly.”

The SAVE LIVES Act expands VA’s authority to provide vaccines to:

• Veterans who are not eligible for enrollment in VA’s health care system, including veterans without compensable service-connected disabilities and veterans who have incomes above a certain threshold;
• Caregivers of veterans who are enrolled in various VA home-based and long-term care programs;
• Spouses of veterans; and    CHAMPVA recipients (spouses of permanently and totally disabled veterans or of veterans who have died from service-connected disabilities).

NOVA President, Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN, noted “VA must be given the tools to hire and retain healthcare professionals to combat coronavirus and to take care of the millions of Veterans we serve.”

This year has shown what VA healthcare professionals provided Veterans and the community during COVID-19. “VA workforce have been called to go above and beyond and met that challenge. We urge Congress and the Administration to support a strong budget so that VA can continue delivering care and services to the millions of Veterans it serves”, she said.

NOVA believes that VA has proven it is uniquely qualified to provide timely access to high quality care in a setting designed to understand those who have served and sacrificed in today’s modern military.
To read our 2021 Legislative Priority Goals – click here.

WASHINGTON D.C.  January 20, 2021- The Nurses Organization of Veterans Affairs (NOVA) congratulates President-Elect Joseph Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris as they take their oath of office today.

As nurses who deliver care to our Nation’s heroes, we offer our congratulations to the new Administration and to the members of the 117^th Congress. We stand ready and willing to work with you to discuss policies and practices that will affect the care and services Veterans receive at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

As we continue to battle the COVID-19 Pandemic, we remain committed to assisting communities with testing, infection control and patient care, and to providing the highest quality of care for all patients.

As the 2020 Election approaches, NOVA would like to remind everyone of the importance of your VOTE.  This year we all face challenges and changes in how we will VOTE due to COVID/coronavirus, so we wanted to provide two comprehensive websites that give State-by-State voter information and guidelines on how to register, request an absentee, or receive a mail in ballot.

Remember to check important dates and deadlines in your State.

League of Women Voters Website can be found here: https://www.vote411.org/

The popular Rock the Vote site can be found here: https://www.rockthevote.org/how-to-vote/

In a letter to Chairman Takano and Ranking Member Roe, President Kelly D. Skinner, DNP, APRN, NP-C, GNP-BC, CRRN, WCC, CFCN, highlighted the need to mandate clinical standards for community care providers equal to those for VA employees, to include training on military cultural competency, as well as providing lethal means safety training to all employees and providers as a good place to start.

“We ask the committee to include provisions that will make real progress towards combating suicide among Veterans and strengthen VA’s mental health services; to include proper funding for expanding and improving mental health care services and increasing staff in critical areas within the Department,” Skinner said.

As VA nurses on the frontlines, we remain dedicated to providing a “Whole Health” approach of which mental health and quality compassionate care is vital.

To read the entire letter: NOVA MENTAL HEALTH PRIORITIES HVAC HEARING