Most 2024-2025 AANA memberships expire Aug. 31, 2024. Make sure your membership is current for 2024-2025!View my online dues statement.
Dear Colleagues,
In our first message to the membership, we would like to begin by thanking you for choosing us to serve you on the 2024-2025 Board of Directors. Our thanks also go to President Dru Riddle, PhD, DNP, CRNA, FAAN, and the 2023-2024 Board for your hard work, many achievements, and dedication to serving the best interests of AANA members.
Your Board of Directors and AANA staff are already hard at work protecting practice rights, ensuring access to care, and fostering your professional development. In the coming months, we will face challenges, opportunities, and changes. Together with our members, we will not only overcome obstacles but also seize new opportunities to innovate, grow, and advance our profession.
We encourage each of you to actively engage with the AANA, whether by participating in upcoming events, contributing your ideas and insights, or connecting with your peers through our various platforms. Your involvement is crucial to our collective success. Here are just two ways to start:
Become an AANA Social Media Ambassador: As an ambassador, you'll enhance communication and education about nurse anesthesiology and connect with and foster a positive online community. Learn more and apply.
Submit your abstract for consideration at the 2025 Annual Congress: The 2025 Annual Congress Abstract Submission site and Call for Pre-Congress Workshop Proposals is open through Wednesday, September 18 at 12 p.m. central time. Visit https://www.aana.com/ce/call-for-abstracts/ to submit, learn more about the guidelines and rubric for grading, and view a video with helpful hints for writing/submitting an abstract.
Your Support Means Everything
Without the support and united voice of our members, we could never accomplish what we have—or hope to—achieve. Renewing your membership ensures that AANA continues to offer the vital resources that drive our collective progress. Renew Today!
Thank you for your unwavering commitment to our profession, and for entrusting us with the responsibility to lead our association during this exciting time. Together we will achieve great things.
The Results are In! Members Vote on Bylaw Amendments/Resolutions
AANA members voted on proposed amendments to the AANA Bylaws, a proposed resolution, and an emergency resolution following the AANA Business Meeting, held on Saturday August 3. View the official report of voting results here.
IN THIS ISSUE
AANA Issues Statement on Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Professional Anesthesia Service Reimbursement Policy Update
AANA Staff Hold Advising Sessions for State Associations at Annual Congress
AANA Issues Statement on False Claims on Safety of CRNA Anesthesia Care
AANA Receives 2024 ASAE Power of Associations Silver Award for State Advocacy Initiative
Arizona Dental Anesthesia Rule Change Allows for Better Safety and Better Access to Care in Dentist Offices
AANA Launches New Micro-Credentialing Program, PROficiency
AANA’s Innovation Lab Partners with LaaSy Health
CRNA Accomplishments Honored at 2024 Annual Congress
Kudos to PR Award Winners
Congratulations to AANA Foundation Award Winners
AANA Applauds the Launch of the Filipino American Nurse Anesthesiology Society
ADVOCACY UPDATES
AANA Issues Statement on Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Professional Anesthesia Service Reimbursement Policy Update
On August 6, the AANA issued a statement in response to Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s professional anesthesia service reimbursement policy update:
“AANA is vehemently opposed to Anthem’s reimbursement policy change that, effective November 1, 2024, Anthem will be reducing QZ services rendered by a CRNA to 85% of the Physician Fee Schedule.
“We believe Anthem’s new anesthesia reimbursement policies are in violation of existing federal laws regarding provider nondiscrimination in commercial health plans, encourage higher-cost healthcare delivery without improving quality, and may impair access to care.
“AANA urges that Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield rescind these policies and promote access to CRNA anesthesia services. Without CRNAs to administer anesthesia and pain management services in rural and underserved areas, where many of Anthem’s members reside, patients would lose access to vital treatment, which could result in poor healthcare outcomes, lower quality of life, and unnecessary costs to patients. Read the entire statement.
AANA Staff Hold Advising Sessions for State Associations at Annual Congress
AANA staff from the State Management Affairs and State Government Affairs divisions met with leaders from 17 state associations at Annual Congress in San Diego. Sessions with state leaders focused on infrastructure, governance and state government relations matters.
AANA Issues Statement on False Claims on Safety of CRNA Anesthesia Care
On July 25, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) issued the following statement regarding the quality and safety of anesthesia care:
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), also known as nurse anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, safely administer more than 50 million anesthetics to patients each year in the United States.
Because of this stellar safety record, AANA was dismayed to see erroneous reports by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) based off a Medicare surveyor report that is pending investigation. Not only does the ASA statement ignore decades of research and practical experience, but the continual sharing of misinformation and fearmongering by our physician anesthesia colleagues is dangerous and does nothing to improve patient care. Read the entire statement.
AANA Receives 2024 ASAE Power of Associations Silver Award for State Advocacy Initiative
The AANA has been recognized with a Power of Associations Silver Award by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) for its successful initiative, “Advocacy from the Start.”
AANA recognizes that to further its mission to advance, support, and protect nurse anesthesiology, all members — Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), also known as nurse anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, and Resident Registered Nurse Anesthetists (RRNAs) enrolled in nurse anesthesia programs — must play a part. Effective advocacy requires engagement from members at all points in their career.
To address this, AANA Advocacy Staff created the “Advocacy from the Start” program. The goal of the “Advocacy from the Start” program is to motivate AANA’s newest members to become active advocates and in turn, encourage RRNAs to continue their advocacy efforts as CRNAs, increase general membership engagement in AANA, and facilitate a pipeline of future AANA leaders. Read more.
Arizona Dental Anesthesia Rule Change Allows for Better Safety and Better Access to Care in Dentist Offices
For many years, dentists have been providing anesthesia in office settings, the rules gave a competitive advantage to dentist anesthesiologists, and requirements for reporting of adverse events were limited. The Arizona Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AZANA) has changed this through Arizona Senate Bill 1602 and committee work at the Arizona State Board of Dental Examiners, establishing a level playing field among anesthesia providers in dental offices. Read more.
SIGNIFICANT NEWS
AANA Launches New Micro-Credentialing Program, PROficiency
The AANA launched its new micro-credentialing program, PROficiency, during the AANA Annual Congress, held August 2-6, 2024, in San Diego.
Micro-credentials are compact competency-based qualifications which demonstrate a learner has evolving knowledge in specified areas which expand or protect scope of practice and/or improve patient care. Micro-credentials encourage CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists to take part in lifelong learning and explore a pathway of achievement-based learning. Being awarded a micro-credential will include a digital badge, which is a visual representation of learning success and signifies an obtained a level of knowledge. Learn more.
AANA’s Innovation Lab Partners with LaaSy Health
The AANA and Rm8, its innovation lab, have partnered with LaaSy Health, a leading innovator in healthcare services. This collaboration will help provide AANA members accessible, affordable, and personalized healthcare. Read more.
CRNA Accomplishments Honored at 2024 Annual Congress
The AANA honored outstanding CRNAs who have made important contributions to the nurse anesthesiology profession with awards presented at the 2024 Annual Congress in San Diego.
Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Accomplishment: Lorraine Jordan, PhD, CRNA, CAE, FAANA, FAAN. This award was established in 1975 to recognize individuals whose foremost dedication to excellence has furthered the art and science of nurse anesthesiology.
Helen Lamb Outstanding Educator Award:Angela Mund, DNP, CRNA. Established in 1980, this award is presented to a CRNA who has made a significant contribution to the education of nurse anesthesiology residents.
Alice Magaw Outstanding Clinical Practitioner Award: Lisa Lucas, DNP, CRNA. This award recognizes the accomplishments of CRNAs involved in direct patient care, who have made an important contribution to the advancement of nurse anesthesiology practice.
Ira P. Gunn Award for Outstanding Professional Advocacy: Kimberly Gordon, DNP, CRNA. Established in 2000 this award recognizes the accomplishments of CRNAs or non-CRNAs who are involved in overcoming legislative, legal, and regulatory challenges to nurse anesthesiology practice rights.
Clinical Instructor of the Year Award:Rachel A. Wolfe, DNP, CRNA, CCRN, CPN. Established in 1991, this award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the teaching of nurse anesthesiology residents in the clinical area.
Didactic Instructor of the Year Award: Sara Meyers, DNP, CRNA, Established in 1991, this award is presented to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the education of nurse anesthesiology residents in the classroom.
Program Director of the Year Award: Aimee Badeaux, PhD, CRNA, APRN, CNE. Established in 1991, this award is presented to a CRNA who has made a significant contribution to the educational process of nurse anesthesiology residents.
Best Promotional Effort for National CRNA Week: Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
Best Public Relations Effort by an Individual, Small Group, Organization, or Company not Affiliated with a State Association: Sarah Trau: MS, CRNA.
Best Overall Public Relations Effort for the Past Year: Georgia Association of Nurse Anesthetists.
Congratulations to AANA Foundation Award Winners
During the 2024 Congress, the AANA Foundation recognized three CRNAs for their outstanding service in the areas of research, volunteerism, and philanthropy. Learn more about the Foundation awards and current and past winners .
AANA Applauds the Launch of the Filipino American Nurse Anesthesiology Society
The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) congratulates the Filipino American Nurse Anesthesiology Society (FANAS) for the official launch of its professional non-profit 501(c)(3) organization on Friday, July 26, 2024.
FANAS aims to unite and empower Filipino American Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), also known as nurse anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, and registered nurses, fostering excellence, collaboration, and leadership. Through mentorship, advocacy, and community engagement, they endeavor to advance the field of nurse anesthesiology, champion diversity, and serve their local communities.
The following is an FEC required legal notification for CRNA-PAC. Gifts to political action committees are not tax deductible. Contributions to CRNA-PAC are for political purposes. All contributions to CRNA-PAC are voluntary. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal. The guidelines are merely suggestions. You are free to contribute more or less than the guidelines suggest and the association will not favor or disadvantage you by reason of the amount contributed or the decision not to contribute. Federal law requires CRNA-PAC to use its best efforts to collect and report the name, mailing address, occupation, and the name of the employer of individuals whose contributions exceed $200 in a calendar year. Each contributor must be a US Citizen.
American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology 10275 West Higgins Road, Suite 500 Rosemont, IL 60018
.png?upscale=true&width=600&upscale=true&name=AANA-logo-horizontal-white%20(1).png){kind=logo}
