Welcome to NPWH's Q2 advocacy newsletter! In this email, you will find:

• A message from NPWH CEO Heather Maurer, MA, CAE
• Information on NPWH BOD Member Genevieve Hofmann's recent publication
• Good news regarding a previous "call to action" item
• A new NPWH resource for WHNP-BCs
• Articles and information relevant to our advocacy efforts
• A summary of our current amicus briefs, bill endorsements, and sign-on letters
• Resources for the WHNP-BC

Thank you for taking the time to read and investing in our advocacy efforts!

Greetings!

Standing Strong for Women’s Healthcare



Dear NPWH Community,

Despite the growing uncertainty in today’s political landscape, NPWH remains steadfast in our commitment to health equity, inclusion, diversity, and empowerment (IDE). We continue to advocate fiercely for the board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP-BC) profession and APRNs in women's and gender-related healthcare, ensuring WHNP-BCs and all APRNs are supported, protected, and empowered to practice to the full extent of their education and training, without fear or restriction. As legislation, court decisions, and funding priorities shift, our mission remains unwavering: to champion policies that protect reproductive autonomy, advance health equity, and preserve access to high-quality, evidence-based care across the lifespan—core beliefs that go all the way back to our founding in 1980.

Advocacy in Action: Supporting Women’s Health Research Funding

NPWH takes a multi-pronged approach to advocacy, including signing on to impactful coalition letters. This quarter, we proudly joined the Society for Women’s Health Research (SWHR) in urging Congress to prioritize funding for women’s health research and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the FY 2026 appropriations legislation.

This work is critical—because we hear you, and we are responding.

NPWH hears your calls, and we're answering—here's how you can take action, collaborating with SWHR! Click here to view the full toolkit, including a letter template, social media pages to follow, and more!

• Find your member of Congress
• Take action and send your Congressional member a message and make sure your voice is heard
• Spread the word by encouraging friends, family members, and colleagues to speak up by posting on social media and using the hashtag #FundWomensHealth

How We Are Taking Action

Our advocacy includes:

Signing Letters: We support research funding, government programs, and initiatives that protect WHNPs and the patients they serve.

• 33 sign-on letters to date.

Legal Advocacy: We actively monitor legal cases and identify strategic opportunities to submit amicus briefs that defend healthcare rights and protect the scope of practice for WHNPs and APRNs.

• 1 amicus brief to date.

Bill Endorsements: We support policymakers introducing bills that align with our organization's advocacy goals and aspirations.

• 3 bill endorsements to date.

Strategic Partnerships: We work alongside national coalitions and organizations to advance policies that support science, environmental health, research, and clinical practice for women's healthcare.

Your Voice Matters & We Want to Learn About Your Efforts

Advocacy is a core pillar of NPWH’s mission and is integral to our founding and history. We are committed to advocating for your ability to provide the care your patients deserve. Your insights and experiences help us shape policy efforts, educational resources, and outreach initiatives.

• Are you involved in advocacy related to the WHNP profession or women’s and gender-related healthcare?
• Do you have a story about overcoming legislative barriers in your practice?
• Are you a researcher who has been impacted by the cuts and layoffs?

Please share your story with us!

With kindest regards and in hope for our future,

Heather L. Maurer, MA, CAE

Chief Executive Officer

The National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health

hmaurer@npwh.org

NPWH Board Member Dr. Genevieve Hofmann, DNP, WHNP-BC, MSCP, co-authored the article "Too Many Women Grin and Bear It When Getting an IUD" alongside journalist Rachel Grumman Bender. The article highlights a long-ignored issue: the often severe, underestimated pain of IUD insertion. Dr. Hofmann was one of the co-authors of the newly released ACOG guidelines titled "Pain Management for Intrauterine Device (IUD) Placement."



Thanks to these important new recommendations, there is now a stronger emphasis on transparent communication, proactive pain management, and individualized care, ensuring that women and individuals are no longer expected to simply “grin and bear it” during IUD insertion.

Dr. Hofmann will also have a keynote presentation at the upcoming 28th Annual NPWH Women's Healthcare Conference in Vegas. Early bird registration ends July 31.

Good News Regarding Freedom to Invest in

Tomorrow's Workforce Act

The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow's Workforce Act was passed in HR1, the budget bill.

The passage of this legislation allows for the expansion of 529 savings accounts, providing professionals with alternative paths to sustain their careers, certification, and continuing education requirements while providing hope in strengthening the economy by supporting a growing workforce.

Here’s what the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act would allow, specifically regarding expenses under 529 education savings plans:

Allowed Expenses under the Act

1. Tuition, Fees, Books, Supplies, and Equipment

Costs required for enrollment in a recognized postsecondary credentialing program—similar to traditional higher education expenses—are covered.

2. Testing Fees

Fees associated with certification exams—including practice tests—required to obtain or maintain a recognized postsecondary credential are eligible.

3. Continuing Education and Credential Renewal Fees

Ongoing education or maintenance fees to retain professional licenses or certifications are covered.

Examples of Eligible Use

• Certification prep and exam fees (e.g. CPA, pilot, trade licenses)
• Books and tools necessary for vocational training (e.g. electrician, IT, cosmetology)
• Continuing education credits or course fees required for license renewal or certification upkeep



NPWH extends our sincere thanks for your support of this important legislation. Your outreach to Congressional representatives and advocacy efforts have been instrumental in advancing this vital bill. Together, we’re helping shape a future that supports education, equity, and access in healthcare.

New Resource for WHNP-BCs: Why Hire a WHNP-BC?

Are you exploring a new career opportunity or preparing for your next job interview? NPWH has created a powerful new resource to help WHNP-BCs effectively highlight their distinct value during the job search process.

“Why Hire a WHNP-BC?” is designed for any WHNP-BC seeking employment or looking to demonstrate the specialized contributions they bring to healthcare teams. This tool helps you clearly communicate what sets you apart—without comparison or competition—by focusing on your:

✔️ Graduate-level education and national certification

✔️ Advanced clinical skills in comprehensive women’s and gender-related healthcare

✔️ Commitment to inclusive, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive care

✔️ Expertise in reproductive, sexual, gynecologic, obstetric, and menopause health

Whether you're applying for a role or educating an employer about the value of hiring a WHNP-BC, this guide empowers you to tell your story with clarity and confidence.

A heartfelt thank you to the NPWH Advocacy Committee for developing this impactful resource for our professional community.

On April 4, 2025, Politico reported major federal cuts to HHS, including a 20–25% reduction in workforce affecting the CDC, FDA, NIH, and HRSA. These cuts threaten the future of women’s health research, which is already historically underfunded. The Women’s Health Initiative narrowly avoided shutdown after public outcry, but programs like the CDC’s Division of Reproductive Health and HRSA’s Maternal & Child Health Bureau were nearly eliminated—jeopardizing vital maternal health surveillance and reproductive health infrastructure. NPWH continues to monitor and collaborate with like-minded organizations to engage in advocacy efforts actively.

NPWH proudly recognizes the work of Vot-ER, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering healthcare professionals to support civic engagement as a core part of patient care. Vot-ER develops practical, accessible tools and programs that help integrate voter registration and democratic participation into clinical settings—ensuring that every patient, provider, and health institution has a voice in shaping the systems that affect their health. By linking civic participation to health outcomes, Vot-ER is advancing a movement where access, equity, and advocacy meet at the intersection of public health and policy.



NPWH actively participates in joining or leading amicus briefs, particularly those that impact the WHNP-BC and APRN practice. An "amicus brief" (Latin for "friend of the court") is a legal document submitted by a party not directly involved in a case, offering information or arguments to aid the court in its decision-making. 

State of Alaska, et al. v. Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, Hawai'i, Alaska, Indiana, and Kentucky

The State of Alaska, et al., are the appellants, and Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest, Hawai'i, Alaska, Indiana, and Kentucky are the appellees. APCs, which include WHNP-BCs, FNP-BCs, CNMs, and physician associates, play a critical role in the nation's health. APCs specializing in women's health, in particular, are sometimes the only clinicians available to a woman who can meet their healthcare needs, as they offer a variety of services including medication abortion and aspiration abortion.

Even with overwhelming evidence that states that APCs can safely and effectively practice independently, especially in Alaska, Alaska state law prohibits anyone other than a licensed physician from providing abortions (Alaska St. Ann. § 18.16.010(a)(1). The appellee challenged this, and the trial court concluded that the section violates the Alaska Constitution, as applied to APCs whose scope of practice includes abortion care.

Despite this decision, the appellants ignored that APCs are crucial providers of reproductive healthcare and are as qualified to provide abortion healthcare services as their physician counterparts, if not more qualified. Depriving Alaskan patients of abortion healthcare from APCs would result in women being unable to obtain necessary healthcare services.

The Court should affirm the trial court's judgment in favor of the Appellee, as dictated in the amicus brief.

Read more here.

NPWH endorses legislation that policymakers on the Hill introduce that improves the ability for APRNs and WHNPs to practice to their full scope, and ensures healthcare for women and gender-diverse individuals is easily accessible nationwide. Additionally, the bills NPWH endorses ensure that nurse practitioners can practice in a safe and professionally conducive environment.

The National Nursing Workforce Center Act

• Introduced on April 10, 2025, otherwise known as S. 1482.
• This bill makes a small technical correction to enable HRSA to establish a federal nursing-focused health workforce research and technical assistance center, establish a pilot program through HRSA to support state-based nursing workforce centers, and deliver reports assessing the impact of this partnership and whether it should be expanded nationwide.
• It would combat the nursing shortage by increasing collaboration between HRSA and the 49 state-based nursing workforce centers to equip communities with tailored resources, education, and training they need to recruit and retain nurses.

The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act of 2025

• Introduced on May 23, 2025, otherwise known as H.R. 3593 and S. 1874.
• This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize certain nursing workforce development programs. This allows the raising of appropriations funds to support clarified advanced nursing education grants and a strengthened capacity for nurse education and practice.

The Health Equity and Access Under the Law (HEAL) for Immigrant Families of 2025

• Introduced on June 24, 2025, otherwise known as S. 2149.
• This bill increases healthcare accessibility for immigrants in the United States. In doing so, the bill intends to:
• Remove unnecessary barriers to healthcare access for immigrant families,
• Provide access to public and affordable health coverage for Deferred Action Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipients,
• Provide access to Medicare, Medicaid, or the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to lawfully present immigrants without a five-year waiting period,
• Allow undocumented immigrants to purchase health insurance through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace, and
• Create a state option plan for states to elect to expand Medicaid and CHIP eligibility to undocumented immigrants who are otherwise eligible.

NPWH actively participates in sign-on letters with leading organizations and advocacy groups to amplify our collective voice in support of the Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner (WHNP) profession, Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), and equitable access to women’s and gender-related healthcare.

By collaborating with these leading organizations and voices, NPWH gains access to a broader network of expertise, insights, and support, ultimately strengthening our advocacy efforts. In signing on to these letters, NPWH ensures that the concerns of WHNPs and their patients are heard and addressed at every level of government.

Below are the highlights from the second quarter of this year.

Nursing Community Coalition (NCC) Sign-On Letters

NPWH is one of the 64 active member organizations of the Nursing Community Coalition (NCC). NCC, as a collective, believes "that the healthcare delivery system should be one that promotes wellness, advances research through scientific discovery, and provides timely access to care across the continuum." Below are the highlights of their sign-on letters NPWH joined.

Letter of Support for the Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act, otherwise known as H.R. 2234

• Read more here.

Letter of Support for the Workplace Violence Prevention for Health Care and Social Service Workers Act, otherwise known as H.R. 2531/S. 1232

• Read more here.

Letter of Request for Funding in FY 2026 for the Nursing Workforce Development Programs

• Read more here.

Letter of Thanks for Introducing Resolutions Recognizing National Nurses Week

• Read more here.

Letter of Support for the Nurse Corps Parity Act of 2025, otherwise known as H.R. 3145/S. 1548

• Read more here.

Letter of Support for the Improving Access to Workers' Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act, otherwise known as H.R. 3170

• Read more here.

Letter Welcoming Dr. Courtney Ferrell Aklin, PhD, as the Interim Director of NIH's National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)

• Read more here.

Letter of Support for Endorsement for Introducing the Title VIII Nursing Workforce Reauthorization Act (H.R. 3593/S. 1874)

• Read more here.

Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) Sign-On Letters

NPWH is one of the active member organizations of the Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments (ANHE) and participates in sign-on letters from the alliance. ANHE is "the leading global nursing organization focused on the intersection of human health and planetary health." NPWH, as a member organization, stands by this mission. Below are the highlights of the letters NPWH signed on to with ANHE.

Letter Opposing Legislation Meant to Weaken PFAS Regulations

• Read more here.

Letter Opposing Efforts to Limit the Power of States to Regulate Food Safety and Food Contact Chemicals

• Read the draft here.

Sign-On Letters Regarding FY 2026 Appropriations

DLH Associates on behalf of SHINE Partners, Letter of Request for FY 2026 Appropriations for Stillbirth Programs Funding

• Read the draft here.

The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research's Letter of Request for FY 2026 Appropriations for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Funding

• Read the draft letter here, and the associated supplemental Q&A draft here.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America's Letter of Request for FY 2026 Appropriations for the Public Health Workforce Loan Repayment Program's Funding

• Read the draft here.

The Coalition for Health Funding's Letter of Request for FY 2026 Appropriations for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Funding

• Read more here.

The Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR)'s Letter of Request for FY 2026 Appropriations for NIH's Office of Research on Women's Health Funding, Representing Members of the Friends of the ORWH Coalition

• Read the draft here.

The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP)'s Letter of Request Regarding SET-NET Fundings in FY 2026 Appropriations

• Read more here.

The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP)'s Letter of Request Regarding Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Funding in FY 2026 Appropriations

• Read more here.

The American Academy of Pediatrics' (AAP's) Letter of Request Regarding Critical Gun Violence Prevention Research in FY 2026 Appropriations

• Read the draft here.

Power to Decide's (PTD's) Letter on Behalf of the FPC Coalition Regarding FY 2026 Appropriations for the Title X Family Planning Program, the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, and the Division of STD Prevention

• Read the draft here.

The Obesity Care Advocacy Network's Letter of Concern Regarding the Proposed Discretionary Budget for the HHS for FY 2026

• Read the draft here.

Other Sign-On Letters

NPWH's, the Alliance for Women's Health and Prevention's (AWHP's), the American Medical Women's Association's (AMWA's), HealthyWomen's, and the Society for Women's Health Research's Letter Regarding Medicaid Cuts

• Read more here.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners' (AANP's) Welcome Letter to President Donald Trump

• Read more here.

The Women First Research Coalition's (WFRC's) Letter of Request Regarding Research Investments for Women's Health

• Read the draft here.

The American Nurses Association's (ANA's) Letter of Request Regarding Medicaid Cuts

• Read more here.

The Fibroid Foundation's Letter of Request to Champion Menstrual Equity

• Read the draft here.

The National Coalition for Gender Justice in Health Policy's (NCGJHP's) Letter of Opposition Regarding Proposed Medicaid Cuts

• Read more here.

The American Lung Association's (ALA's) Letter of Request Urging Congress to Address Climate Change

• Read more here.

The Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine's (SMFM's) Letter of Opposition Regarding Medicaid Cuts

• Read more here.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioner's (AANP's) Letter of Request Regarding Ways the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Can Reduce Anti-Competitive Regulatory Barriers on behalf of the APRN Workgroup

• Read more here.

*The Maternal Immunization Task Force's Comments to the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy

• Read more here.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists' (ACOG's) Letter of Request to Insurers and Payers to Ensure the Availability of the COVID-19 Vaccine for Pregnant Individuals

• Read the draft here.

The American Association of Nurse Practitioners' (AANP's) Letter of Concern Regarding the Dismissal of All Members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)

• Read the draft here.

The FPC Coalition's Letter of Opposition Regarding Acts to "Defund" Planned Parenthood Through the Budget Reconciliation Bill

• Read the draft here.

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