In just a few short weeks, the holidays will arrive, followed closely by a brand-new year that is sure to bring many opportunities as well as challenges. AANA will continue to be your steadfast, proactive advocate as we navigate the new federal and state administration landscapes together.
We will keep you informed about any new developments regarding our advocacy priorities including provider nondiscrimination, VA Standards of Practice, and supervision requirements. Please watch your inbox, the AANA website, and AANA publications for news and calls to action.
The holiday season, with all of its fun and beauty, can also be a challenging, stressful, and even difficult time for many of us, for many reasons. Take care of yourself and each other, and don’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for help. The AANA offers a wealth of health and wellness resources—including the AANA Helpline (800-654-5167) available 24/7.
As always, thank you for all you do to keep our patients safe and our profession strong.
Anthem Anesthesia Reimbursement Changes Highlight Need for HHS to Enforce ACA Provider Non-Discrimination Provision
Mandamus Update
TOMORROW, December 10: CRNA-PAC Post Election Wrap up Webinar
AANA Attends Governor Meetings
Oppose Legislation Harming Veterans' Access to Care
Chicago Tribune Names AANA a Winner of its Top Workplaces 2024 Award
Candidates Sought: Delegate to the Education Committee
A Purpose in Every Patient: A CRNA’s Impact on Rural Healthcare
ADVOCACY UPDATES
Anthem Anesthesia Reimbursement Changes Highlight Need for HHS to Enforce ACA Provider Non-Discrimination Provision
The AANA is pleased Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield reversed its recently announced anesthesia reimbursement policy that could have endangered patients in New York, Missouri and Connecticut.
“While this is a good first step, Anthem and other health insurers still have anesthesia policies that espouse blatant provider discrimination in the reimbursement for anesthesia services,” said AANA President Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC. “These policies exacerbate provider shortages and impede access to timely, necessary healthcare services. They also have the potential to drive up costs for patients.”
Anthem announced last month that effective February 2025, it would deny anesthesia claims for cases that exceed the physician work time values established by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for all anesthesia providers, including CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists. Read the AANA press release.
Mandamus Update
Earlier this year the AANA filed a Writ of Mandamus to compel the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to enforce the nondiscrimination provisions of the Affordable Care Act. Although the deadline for the government to respond was in November, it requested and was granted an extension to respond by December 30, 2024. AANA’s legal team expects the government to file a motion to dismiss, as is standard legal practice. We will be monitoring the issue and will report as soon as there are substantive updates on the Mandamus and anticipated next steps by AANA.
TOMORROW, December 10: CRNA-PAC Post Election Wrap up Webinar
AANA President Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC; CRNA PAC Chair Tim Johnson, CRNA, APRN; and members from the Federal & State Government Affairs team are hosting a post-election webinar. We will assess key races and the overall impact of the 2024 elections on AANA’s legislative priorities. All AANA members are invited to join on December 10 at 8:00 pm ET and are strongly encouraged to contribute to CRNA-PAC. We look forward to seeing you there. Register here.
AANA Attends Governor Meetings
AANA President Janet Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC, and State Government Affairs staff attended the Republican Governors Association (RGA) Annual Conference in Marco Island, Florida in November. President Setnor and SGA staff met with several governors and used the opportunity to educate them on CRNA practice, including the need to fully utilize a state’s existing workforce. In December, SGA staff will be attending the Democratic Governors Association Annual Meeting and Holiday Party in Los Angeles. These meetings allow the AANA to continue advocating for CRNA practice in the states.
Oppose Legislation Harming Veterans' Access to Care
Last year, Representatives David Scott (D-GA), Mike Turner (R-OH), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), and Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) introduced a bill ironically named the Protect Lifesaving Anesthesia Care for Veterans Act of 2023 (H.R. 3347/S. 2070), which will harm access to critical healthcare services for our veterans.
Tell your U.S. representative and senators that you oppose this harmful legislation today.
You will be directed to a prewritten email to your legislators. Please personalize the email so that it’s not seen as a form letter. Be sure to keep the tone professional.
Click “send email.”
Share the link with your friends and family so they can contact their legislators as well.
SIGNIFICANT NEWS
Chicago Tribune Names AANA a Winner of its Top Workplaces 2024 Award
The AANA has once again been selected as a Top Workplaces honoree by Chicago Tribune. This is the third time since 2021 AANA has received this honor and the second consecutive year. Once again, AANA was the highest ranked healthcare association in the “small” (fewer than 250 employees) category. The association moved to 27th place from last year’s 39th place. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by employee engagement technology partner Energage LLC. The confidential survey uniquely measures 15 culture drivers that are critical to the success of any organization such as alignment, execution, and connection. Read more.
Candidates Sought: Delegate to the Education Committee
The Education Committee has two delegates who each serve two-year terms. One delegate is elected every year at the Assembly of Didactic and Clinical Educators (ADCE) in February. Delegates must be CRNAs who spend at least 50% of their time in the didactic and/or clinical instruction of nurse anesthesia students at the time of application. During their tenure on the committee, delegates must:
Be continuously involved in the didactic and/or clinical instruction of nurse anesthesiology residents.
Attend ADCE and AANA Annual Congress during both years of their term.
Attend Education Committee meetings and conference calls for the two-year term which begins immediately following the AANA Annual Congress in the year elected.
A Purpose in Every Patient: A CRNA’s Impact on Rural Healthcare
As Scheurer Health’s only full-time anesthesia provider, Hollie Thacker, CRNA, embodies the spirit of rural healthcare. With a passion for patient-centered care, she plays a vital role in ensuring that high-quality anesthesia services are available to residents in Pigeon, Michigan. Read more.
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}
