HLG Blog: Retrogression Battle Continues
Read about HLG’s ongoing effort to work on Congress to have a Schedule A visa bill passed that ends retrogression. This month’s Blog entries include: how this summer’s immigration legislation battle impacts our effort to end Schedule A retrogression, information about our Coalition strategy, a look ahead at key dates this winter, and many other entries. Are you checking it regularly?
http://hammondlawgroup.blogspot.com/

Partnering with ILW.com
Hammond Law Group (HLG) is pleased to announce that our Healthcare & Immigration Blog will now also be featured on ILW.com. All posts will be mirrored at both the Healthcare & Immigration Blog site and our new ILW.com Blog Page. HLG lawyers expect to comment and interact with users from both sites.
http://hammondlawgroup.blogspot.com/

http://blogs.ilw.com/hammondlawgroup/

CHA: Expanding Access to Healthcare
In their 2007 Federal Advocacy Priorities, the California Hospital Association calls for an increase in the number of visas available for foreign nurses and other health care professionals in short supply in the U.S.
http://www.calhealth.org/Download/Federal07.pdf

Nurse Education Plan Fails
Despite lobbying from nurses and physicians, the U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass the 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act by a veto-proof margin. The legislation would have provided funding for the nation’s nursing education programs and to recruit new nurses into the profession, promote career advancement within nursing, and recruit nurses into critical shortage areas. The legislation was vetoed Nov. 13 by President Bush, saying “Health care, education, job training, and other goals can be achieved without this excessive spending if the Congress sets priorities.”

http://include.nurse.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071203/ALL01/71128017/-1/frontpage

Addressing Africa’s Workforce Crisis
A recent McKinsey article highlights the unique healthcare staffing challenges facing Africa. The article draws some expected, and some unexpected, conclusions.
http://www.mckinseyquarterly.com/Addressing_Africas_health_workforce_crisis_2079_abstract

CGFNS: NY CVS Price increase Jan. 1
CGFNS recently announced new pricing for its Credential Verification Service for New York State. The announcement says that the “new price was necessitated by increases in fees charged by primary sources for securing required documents on behalf of applicants.” The new $350 fee goes into effect on January 1.
http://www.cgfns.org/sections/announcements/

FCCPT: New Prices, Policies starting Jan. 1
FCCPT has announced several price and policy changes that will go into effect at the beginning of next year. Notably, paper applications will no longer be accepted, as FCCPT moves completely into an on-line application system. Other changes, including filing fee increases are set to take effect.
http://www.fccpt.org/forapplicants.html#FeeIncrease

Rhode Island to Enter Nurse Compact
Rhode Island will in 2008 become the 23rd state to join the Nurse Compact. The Compact allows a nurse to have one license (in his or her state of residency) and to practice in other states (both physical and electronic), subject to each state's practice law and regulation. Under mutual recognition, a nurse may practice across state lines unless otherwise restricted.
http://www.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText07/SenateText07/S0640.pdf

Judy Pendergast Attends CGFNS Event

Judy Pendergast attended the CGFNS event on December 3 and 4th in Philadelphia titled "Building Global Alliances IV". Presentations focused on the topic of disparities in health care delivery across the globe. There was a thought provoking discussion on how economic factors as well as the worldwide nursing shortage affected those disparities.

http://www.cgfns.org

HLG Event Calendar: http://www.hammondlawfirm.com

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