FINE Program: Nurse reimbursement is not fine anymore, lets change it.

Before the 1930s, people would hire private nurses to care for their families in the hospital as a fee per service model with billable rates. When hospitals built their own in-house nursing department, they looked to hotels for inspiration therefore nursing services were rolled into one "room rate". They really said, "Maids = Nurses". 😭

Unlike other allied healthcare professionals (MD, PT, OT, etc) who's billable hours are seen as an investment, nursing is STILL viewed negatively as an expense. Like any other expense, Hospitals (which are businesses at the end of the day!) are out to cut expenses.

The Commission for Nurse Reimbursement (CNR) was founded in 2023 by national nurse leaders, healthcare executives, policy experts and academics to vet, validate and create sustainable solutions that can be adopted by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services and insurance providers. CNR believes that this will improve the current model of payment for nursing services within hospital and healthcare systems. 

Translation: they’re working to make sure we’re paid what we’re worth and that our contributions are reflected in healthcare policies.

Navi Nurses, founded by fellow Nurse Jasmine Bhatti, is a prime example of this economic model in action.