The American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) occasionally develops position statements and papers to advocate for an issue important to ambulatory care nursing.
A position statement:
- Describes one side of an arguable viewpoint.
- Provides the background and rationale to support a particular viewpoint.
- Makes the organization's stand on the viewpoint clear to the audience.
A position paper may accompany a position statement to provide in-depth evidence supporting the viewpoint and stance of the organization.
Position Statement on AMA's Proposed AI CPT Codes
Created July 2026
The American Academy of Ambulatory Care Nursing (AAACN) recognizes that the AMA's CPT coding system has historically served an essential purpose: to standardize the reporting of medical services and support comprehensive evaluation, accurate diagnosis, and effective care planning. We support advancements—including those involving artificial intelligence (AI)—that strengthen clinical decision making and improve patient outcomes.
However, the United States already spends more on health care than any other high income nation, while achieving outcomes that consistently fall below peer countries. Millions of Americans delay or forego needed care due to cost. Any proposal that increases spending must be evaluated with extreme caution, especially one that has the future potential to embed new AI fees into every lab test, image, and scan—raising the cost of every transaction across the system.
Under the current CPT structure, approximately 52% of reimbursement reflects physician medical decision making—including time, expert knowledge, skill, effort, stress, and risk. If AI tools are assigned CPT codes that reimburse for an additional level of medical decision making while the existing physician work compensation remains unchanged, the American taxpayer will be charged twice for the same cognitive work.
If autonomous AI is performing medical decision making, then the portion of physician reimbursement tied to that decision making should decrease proportionally—and ultimately to zero—when the physician is no longer performing that work. Any other approach results in duplicative payment and accelerates cost growth in a system already out of reach for many.
AI is already deeply embedded in clinical workflows. The proposal does not clearly define where the line is drawn between current supportive AI tools, billable AI tools, and autonomous AI decision making. While the current proposal does not directly alter nursing workflows, its trajectory makes future implications easy to foresee. If autonomous AI begins generating orders, tests, or care plans, nurses may be expected to carry them out—while also bearing responsibility for verifying their safety. This creates new liability, new workload, and new risk without corresponding clarity, safeguards, or reimbursement. This is especially concerning given that nurses—despite being central to care delivery—receive no direct reimbursement under the AMA owned CPT system today.
AAACN is committed to high quality, cost effective, patient centered care. The proposed AI CPT codes have the potential to rapidly increase costs in a system already unaffordable for many Americans, while introducing uncertainty and risk into nursing practice. We urge the AMA to:
- Prevent duplicative payment for medical decision making;
- Ensure cost neutrality for any AI related reimbursement;
- Prevent duplicative payment for medical decision making;
- Define clear boundaries for autonomous AI in clinical workflows;
- Safeguard nurses from unintended liability or unsafe task delegation; and
- Engage nursing organizations early and consistently in future deliberations.
AAACN stands ready to collaborate with the AMA to ensure that innovation strengthens—not destabilizes—quality, safety, and affordability in American health care.
Position Statement on Workplace Violence, Incivility, and Bullying in Ambulatory Care
Created September 2023
Workplace violence toward nurses is an increasingly prevalent issue. The occurrence of violence toward healthcare workers is higher than in most professions and has only increased throughout the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to the American Nurses Association, one in four nurses is assaulted on the job. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that healthcare workers and those who work in social services are five times more likely to experience workplace violence than other workers.
This position statement describes the vast impact of workplace violence on ambulatory care nurses and the critical role nurses must play in advocating for its prevention and lays out the basic tools and actions needed in preventing an event, during and after an event, and in influencing a culture of safety within an organization.
AAACN is committed to creating workplaces that are free from workplace violence, incivility, bullying, discrimination, and harassment to end workplace abuse and promote healthy work environments
Position Statement on the Role of the Registered Nurse in Ambulatory Care Nursing
Updated 2023
In the dynamic landscape of healthcare, the role of the Registered Nurse (RN) in ambulatory care is emerging as a vital cornerstone of patient-centered, accessible, and efficient healthcare delivery.
The Role of the RN in Ambulatory Care Nursing Position Statement offers a comprehensive depiction of the ambulatory care RN's function for its members, associated stakeholders, and healthcare industry partners. It clarifies the role, the additional value it brings, and the benefits it offers in terms of patient outcomes, both through independent and collaborative nursing practice in the ambulatory care environment.
This updated position statement provides a concise yet meticulously evidence-based overview of the ambulatory care RN's responsibilities, with the aim of inspiring recognition and appreciation for the role and scope of these nursing professionals.
Position Paper on the Role of the Registered Nurse in Ambulatory Care Nursing
Updated 1/2024
In the dynamic landscape of healthcare, the role of the RN in ambulatory care is emerging as a vital cornerstone of patient-centered, accessible, and efficient healthcare delivery. The updated Role of the RN in Ambulatory Care Position Paper is a valuable resource set to empower and elevate your role in ambulatory care nursing.
This comprehensive paper provides an insightful analysis of the current state of nursing preparation for the role of ambulatory care RNs, covering crucial aspects such as clinical practice, education, leadership, and research. Delving into both the challenges and potential solutions, the document acts as a beacon for the future of ambulatory care nursing, calling for action from the nursing profession, ambulatory care nurses, and organizations that employ them.
This paper holds immense value for nursing professionals, clinicians, educators, leaders, researchers, and interdisciplinary health care professionals. By offering increased clarity and a strategic vision, it guides you to practice fully within your scope while holding others accountable for non-nursing activities. In essence, it empowers you to shape the future of ambulatory care nursing practice.
By arming yourself with the insights and knowledge encapsulated in this updated paper, you position yourself at the forefront of ambulatory care nursing, driving positive change in your practice and contributing to value-based optimal health outcomes.
Use these Talking Points to help you advocate for the RN role.
AAACN/AONE Joint Statement
The Role of the Nurse Leader in Care Coordination and Transition Management across the Health Care Continuum
AAACN and the American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) convened in early 2015 for a Day of Dialogue to discuss the role of the nurse leader in Care Coordination and Transition Management (CCTM) across the Care Continuum.
The group, comprised of nurse leaders in acute care and ambulatory care/outpatient settings, and nurse researchers, discussed what is needed to improve patient care coordination and transition management throughout the health care system (acute to outpatient settings and vice versa) and how nurses are well positioned to coordinate and deliver these services to patients.
Through a series of facilitated dialogue, the group developed a joint statement that outlines the strategies needed to enhance care coordination and transition management of patients across the health care continuum.