February 10, 2025

Dear Colleagues, 

In just a few days, we head to Tucson, Arizona, for The Assembly of Didactic and Clinical Educators. We look forward to meeting educators from around the country and are always inspired by your dedication and innovative spirit as you as you take on the critical task of preparing the next generation of excellent CRNAs.  

On Wednesday, February 12, we invite all members to attend the Open Session of the AANA Board of Directors—either in person or virtually. See this page (member login required) for the time, agenda, and a Zoom registration link for participating in the meeting remotely.  

This meeting is coming at a crucial time for the association and our profession. As always, AANA is advocating for you with the new administration and on the state level on a number of critical issues, among them reimbursement, educational funding, and practice rights. Last week, President Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC, along with President-elect Jeff Molter MBA, MSN, CRNA, and AANA Federal Government Affairs staff, came to Washington, D.C., for several Hill visits, including the Veterans Health Administration, MedPAC, and 11 legislators. You’ll find more information about the visits in the first Advocacy Updates item below.  

As always, thank you for all that you do for your patients, your colleagues, and AANA. 

Sincerely, 

The AANA Board of Directors 

IN THIS ISSUE

• AANA President Janet Setnor Advocates with Congress and Federal Agencies 

• In Her Own Words: Air Force Reservist Janet Setnor Breaks Down Barriers to Nurse Anesthesiology  
  
  
• AANA Applauds the Introduction of Legislation That Will Address the Nation’s Nursing Shortage  

• Georgia Board of Dentistry Adopts Favorable Conscious Sedation Rules  

• 2025 State Legislative Sessions Update 

• House of Representatives Recognizes the Contributions of CRNAs 

• Call for Nominations: AANA Award for Excellence in State Government Relations Advocacy 

• CRNAs Drive Innovation, Ensure High-Quality Care In Pediatric Anesthesia 

• A Chance Encounter at 35,000 Feet Brings Heartfelt Connection Between CRNA and Veteran Patient 

ADVOCACY UPDATES

AANA President Janet Setnor Advocates with Congress and Federal Agencies

This week, AANA President Jan Setnor MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC, emphasized key AANA priorities on Capitol Hill, with the Department of Veterans Affairs, and the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). 

Capitol Hill: President Setnor met with multiple lawmakers to discuss AANA priorities and issues for the coming Congressional session. She met with lawmakers from the VA Committee to discuss full practice authority and the need to ensure that CRNAs can work to the top of their education and training. She also met with members of the Nursing Caucus, to discuss a wide range of nursing priorities, including VA full practice authority, Title VIII Nursing Workforce Funding, and the ICAN Act. President Setnor met with almost a dozen lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to discuss our priorities.  

VA: On Tuesday February 4, AANA Federal Government Affairs staff and President Setnor met with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Patient Care Services/Chief Nursing Officer, the Assistant Under Secretary for Health for Clinical Services, and their teams to advocate for full practice authority in the VA National Standards of Practice for CRNAs. Currently, 1,100 CRNAs work in the VA health system providing anesthesia care to our nation’s veterans, and CRNAs remain the only APRN role to whom the VA health system has not granted full practice authority. Without full practice authority for CRNAs, the VA health system requires physician supervision. This has contributed to increased wait times and delays in care for the veterans who utilize the VA health system. AANA has also sent a letter to newly confirmed VA Secretary Doug Collins to congratulate him on his appointment and to request a meeting on this important issue.   

MEDPAC: MedPAC is an independent agency charged with advising Congress with data-driven recommendations to improve the Medicare program. The Commission is served by 17 members who are appointed to 3-year terms and have expertise in economics, healthcare delivery, and public policy. MedPAC releases two reports per year to Congress that include their recommendations to increase access and promote cost efficiency in Medicare. President Setnor and AANA Regulatory Affairs staff met with MedPAC staff to address the arbitrary barriers to CRNA full practice in Medicare and how autonomous CRNA practice increases access for rural and underserved populations while decreasing the risk of fraud in billing and is the most efficient anesthesia care team model. The meeting was highly engaging, and AANA looks forward to further advocacy at the Commission.  

AANA President-elect Jeff Molter, MBA, MSN, CRNA, and President Janet Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC, are pictured here in front of the Department of Veterans Affairs in Washington, D.C. 

In Her Own Words: Air Force Reservist Janet Setnor Breaks Down Barriers to Nurse Anesthesiology

In a piece in The Business Journals, AANA President Janet Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC, reflects on her journey as a CRNA, as well as serving in the military and deploying to care for soldiers and local nationals in a war zone, which she called "the highlight of my career." In the military, CRNAs practice to the full scope of their training and education — and Setnor is calling for barriers to practice to be removed for all CRNAs across the country. Removing these barriers will address increasing anesthesia shortages in hospitals. Read more. 

Georgia Board of Dentistry Adopts Favorable Conscious Sedation Rules

The Georgia Board of Dentistry (BOD) proposed rules in October 2023 that would have restricted the use of certain drugs when the dentist is using a CRNA to provide conscious sedation. The Georgia Association of Nurse Anesthetists (GANA) provided written comments and testimony addressing how these restrictions would reduce patient access to dental sedation care. The Georgia BOD subsequently adopted rules that addressed GANA’s concerns, stating in part: “Nothing in this Rule is intended to restrict the pharmaceutical armamentarium of a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) when anesthesia is administered and monitored by a CRNA in conjunction with a dental procedure.”  

2025 State Legislative Sessions Update

All 50 state legislatures will be in session in 2025. As of 2/1/2025:  

• 13 states have introduced major proactive legislation concerning full practice authority (e.g., remove supervision or other restrictive physician involvement, prescriptive authority), working with dentists/podiatrists, and/or pain management. 10 states have introduced major proactive legislation concerning reimbursement (e.g., payment parity, nondiscrimination, direct reimbursement, prohibiting time limits for payment of anesthesia).

• 14 states are facing opposition legislation (e.g., AAs, title restriction, supervision, restrictions on pain management), with some states facing opposition legislation on more than one topic.   

AANA Applauds the Introduction of Legislation That Will Address the Nation’s Nursing Shortage

Recently, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA) introduced the PRECEPT Nurses Act, a bipartisan bill that would address our country’s nursing shortage by establishing a $2,000 tax credit for nurses who serve as a clinical preceptor to nursing students. This legislation is being introduced alongside Reps. Dave Joyce (R-OH), Claudia Tenney (R-NY), and Jim Costa (D-CA) in the U.S. House of Representatives, and by Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) in the U.S. Senate. 

The AANA supports this legislation, which if passed, will help ensure that enough nurses, including CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists, will be available to care for patients in all settings, including rural and underserved communities. Read more. 

House of Representatives Recognizes the Contributions of CRNAs

In honor of National CRNA Week (Jan. 19-25, 2025), U.S. House Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), and Paul Tonko (D-NY) again introduced a bipartisan House Resolution on the House floor, “Recognizing the roles and the contributions of America’s Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists  (CRNAs) and their critical role in providing quality healthcare for the public and the nation’s armed forces for more than 150 years and through multiple public health emergencies and beyond.” Read more. 

Call for Nominations: AANA Award for Excellence in State Government Relations Advocacy

Attention State Associations: Apply now for the AANA Award for Excellence in State Government Relations Advocacy!  This award recognizes a state association that made significant efforts in state government affairs advocacy and will be presented at the Mid-Year Assembly. Applications are due by February 28, 2025. 

MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS

CRNAs Drive Innovation, Ensure High-Quality Care In Pediatric Anesthesia

Pediatric anesthesia care is a complex field that requires specialized knowledge, skill, and sensitivity to the needs of young patients. At Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists play an essential role in ensuring that children receive safe and effective anesthesia care. Under the guidance of Audrey Rosenblatt, PhD, CRNA, FAANA, Director of Advanced Practice Provider Anesthesia Services, Lurie Children’s leverages the expertise of CRNAs to provide top-tier anesthesia services for its patients. Rosenblatt, who has been with the hospital for 12 years, oversees a team of 23 CRNAs, ensuring high-quality care for children undergoing surgery and medical procedures. Read more. 

A Chance Encounter at 35,000 Feet Brings Heartfelt Connection Between CRNA and Veteran Patient

After spending the weekend at the 2024 Multicultural CRNA Conference, Dan Lovinaria, DNP, MBA, CRNA, APRN, CHSE, FNAP, FAANA, FAAN, brought home a story that weaves together a chance encounter, heartfelt connections, and a career shaped by purpose. Lovinaria learned that his seatmate on the flight to Minneapolis, Vietnam Veteran John McPhillips was set to undergo at the Minneapolis VA in just a few days. Immediately, Lovinaria was at attention, excited to share that he works there as a CRNA. Read on how Lovinaria and McPhillips forged a bond during that flight that was cemented when Lovinaria served as the anesthesia provider for the veteran’s procedure. 

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