We have just returned from the inaugural EDGE Conference in Louisville—an inspiring and innovative gathering that truly embodied Educate, Develop, Grow, Engage. Thank you to everyone who participated. We set a new attendance record with over 660 attendees. The future of nurse anesthesiology is bright because of your dedication and leadership.
The timing of this meeting could not have been more important. As many of you know, on January 30, the Department of Education released a regulation on federal student loan caps that removes nursing degrees from the definition of a professional degree. If finalized, this rule would classify future CRNAs as graduate students and cap their loans at $20,500 annually and $100,000 in total—limits that could make CRNA education financially unattainable for many.
In the AANA’s response, President Jeff Molter, MSN, MBA, CRNA, noted that 75% of CRNA respondents to a recent AANA survey said CRNA education would no longer be financially feasible under the proposed limits, and nearly 80% expressed serious concern about relying on private loans.
We want to be clear: AANA is not giving up. We will submit formal comments before the rule closes on March 2, but your voice is essential. Because CRNAs are not explicitly addressed in the rule, individualized comments explaining our education, training, and role as independent providers are critically important.
Please submit your comment to the Department of Education using this link.
AANA Sets the Record Straight on False ASA Claims Regarding 2026 Joint Commission Hospital Accreditation Standards and the Ability of SRNAs to be Involved in Teaching Cases
House Resolution Highlights CRNAs’ Essential Role in Expanding Access to Anesthesia Care
Nominations Now Open: Excellence in State Government Advocacy Award
Utah Adopts CRNA Reimbursement Workers’ Compensation Rule
Mississippi Adopts Favorable Rules Concerning OB System of Care
Recognize Excellence in Patient Care
How One CRNA is Holding Ground on Maternal Health
From Survival to Service: A New CRNA’s Journey
Advocacy Updates
CMS Announces $50 Billion in Awards Under the Rural Health Transformation Program
The Joint Commission (TJC) recently made changes to their accreditation standards for hospitals, removing mention of supervised trainees in the list of individuals who can administer anesthesia. We are aware of attempts by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) to misrepresent these changes as excluding SRNAs in being able to be involved in anesthesia teaching cases in hospitals, thus making it more difficult for SRNAs/RRNAs from participating in teaching cases.
Current Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) Conditions of Participation and corresponding interpretive guidelines do not address or prohibit the use of SRNAs/RRNAs in teaching cases, and, in fact, CMS payment policy via the CMS teaching rules acknowledges the ability of SRNAs/RRNAs to be involved in anesthesia cases. Any attempt to change facility policies, procedures, or by-laws based on this misinterpretation will severely impact the anesthesia workforce and must be discouraged.
AANA is working to ensure SRNA/RRNA’s continue to have access to the education and training they need to successfully enter independent practice upon graduation. Explore more about Facility Accreditation here.(Member login required.) The webpage includes downloadable materials including:
House Resolution Highlights CRNAs’ Essential Role in Expanding Access to Anesthesia Care
In honor of National CRNA Week (Jan. 18-24, 2026), members of the U.S. House of Representatives Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Dave Joyce (R-OH), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), 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 safe quality health care for the public and our nation’s armed forces, for more than 150 years as the first anesthesia providers. Read more.
Nominations Now Open: Excellence in State Government Advocacy Award
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 March 2, 2026.
Utah Adopts CRNA Reimbursement Workers’ Comp Rule
Utah’s Labor Commission/Division of Industrial Accidents adopted a workers compensation rule stating, in part, that “reimbursement for certified nurse anesthetists will follow Medicare guidelines.” This rule improves CRNA workers’ compensation reimbursement in how CRNAs were previously and explicitly only paid 75% of the amount allowed under the Division’s rules.
Mississippi Adopts Favorable OB System of Care Rules
The Mississippi Department of Health has adopted rules concerning Obstetrics (OB) System of Care standards for hospitals. As proposed, the rules primarily included only physician anesthesiologists in provisions concerning anesthesia. The Mississippi Association of Nurse Anesthetists provided testimony and written comments concerning the importance of CRNAs in providing obstetrical care in the state. The rules were subsequently amended and adopted, with CRNAs added to the anesthesia provisions for the levels of care and also adding a CRNA position to the OB System Advisory Committee.
Member Highlights
Recognize Excellence in Patient Care
The Alice Magaw Outstanding Clinical Practitioner Award, one of AANA’s Lifetime Achievement Awards, honors a CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist whose contributions in direct patient care have advanced nurse anesthesia practice. Named for Alice Magaw, known as the “Mother of Anesthesia,” the award celebrates clinical excellence and a lasting impact on the profession.
Learn more about this and other Lifetime Achievement Awards that recognize outstanding educators, advocates, and leaders in nurse anesthesiology.
From Survival to Service: A New CRNA’s Journey
When Ariel King, DNP, CRNA, graduated from her nurse anesthesiology program in December 2025, the milestone represented far more than the end of a demanding course of study. It was the culmination of a long, determined journey shaped by early instability, military service, single parenthood and years of balancing school, work, and caregiving. 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
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