The tragic loss of a fellow nurse this weekend in Minneapolis weighs heavily on the entire healthcare community. We extend our deepest sympathies and condolences to Alex Pretti’s family, friends and colleagues. This touches close to home for the nursing community and underscores a critical reminder – nurses should be safe and supported in both their workplaces and their communities.
While we grieve this loss with our broader healthcare community, we remain committed to focus on the mission of AANA: advocate for the nurse anesthesiology profession as a whole – focusing on patient safety, access to care, education and professional practice.
We’d like to offer a rousing thank you to all of our members who advocated and celebrated CRNA week. We are always amazed and inspired by your creativity and the pride you show in our profession.
We hope that you enjoyed the member social media takeover on AANA’s Facebook and Instagram accounts. And, how about the Today Show takeover on Tuesday! More than 200 residents and faculty from Columbia, Rutgers, and Hofstra University nurse anesthesia educational programs bundled up in AANA gear and brought signs and boundless enthusiasm to Rockefeller Plaza. Here’s the video in case you missed it.
In addition to the CRNA week festivities, January has been remarkably busy as we continue to represent CRNA legislative and regulatory priorities in DC, in state houses, and even the White House.
The Department of Education (ED) has not yet released the proposed rule regarding student loan caps for comment. AANA Federal Government Affairs is working with Congress and the Administration to include future CRNAs in the higher student loan cap passed in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA).
As soon as the proposed rule is released, all AANA members will receive a CRNAdvocacy Alert with instructions on submitting a comment to ED. Please note that ED will NOT count identical comments, so PLEASE personalize the template. You can find all CRNAdvocacy Alerts on our action center.
CMS Announces $50 Billion in Awards Under the Rural Health Transformation Program
Statement from AANA President Jeff Molter, MS, MBA, CRNA, on the Rural Health Transformation Program
Merit-based Incentive Program (MIPS) News
CMS Publishes Final CY 2026 Medicare Anesthesia Conversion Factors for 109 States and Localities
Application Deadline is Next Week: Become a 2026 Fellow of the AANA
Meet the Hosts of Grade 1 View Season 2
Advocacy Updates
CMS Announces $50 Billion in Awards Under the Rural Health Transformation Program
On Dec. 29, 2025, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced awards for all 50 states under the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a $50 billion initiative established under the Working Families Tax Cuts legislation (Public Law 119-21) to strengthen and modernize health care in rural communities across the country. Award amounts ranged from $147.3 million (New Jersey) to $281.3 million (Texas), with an average and median award amount of $200 million. Access RHTP state project abstracts here.
Also on Dec. 29, CMS announced the creation of the Office of Rural Health Transformation (ORHT) to oversee the RHTP. The ORHT will guide states in implementing their rural health transformation plans, provide technical assistance, coordinate federal and state partnerships, and ensure strong oversight and accountability throughout the five-year program. AANA will continue to monitor and identify opportunities to push for removal of supervision requirements and expansion of full practice authority at the federal level with ORHT.
Statement from AANA President Jeff Molter, MS, MBA, CRNA, on the Rural Health Transformation Program
January 16, 2026
“Today, the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) participated in an event at the White House to celebrate the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) alongside our Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) colleagues. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are indispensable to serving patients across rural healthcare, providing access to surgical, obstetrical, and preventative care in communities that need them most. The RHTP represents a critical investment in strengthening care and expanding access across rural and underserved areas.
The AANA applauds the administration’s commitment to remove unnecessary barriers for APRNs and other advanced practice providers. The RHTF takes important steps towards reducing some of those barriers, and we look forward to continuing this work to eliminate outdated restrictions, including Medicare’s physician supervision requirement, so CRNAs and other APRNs can practice at the top of their education and training. This is an important continuation of the Administration’s work to stop anticompetitive practices, increase access, and reduce unnecessary bureaucracy.”
Merit-based Incentive Program (MIPS) News
2026 MIPS Payment Adjustments Effective Jan. 1, 2026: Starting Jan. 1, 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) applies MIPS payment adjustments to Medicare Part B professional services billed under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. The Final Scores determined payment adjustments that were positive, negative, or neutral (no change). CRNAs can view their Final Score and the corresponding payment adjustment percentage by logging into their Quality Payment Program (QPP) accounts.
2025 MIPS Data Submission Period is Open: CRNAs who participated in traditional MIPS or MIPS APMs (Advanced Alternative Payment Models) during the 2025 performance year can submit performance data until March 31, 2026, at 8 p.m. ET. Providers report their data through your Quality Payment Program account either directly, or through a third party on their behalf. CMS encourages clinicians to report data as soon as possible so they can obtain assistance from the QPP Service Center if necessary.
CMS Publishes Final CY 2026 Medicare Anesthesia Conversion Factors for 109 States and Localities
On Dec. 29, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) published the updated Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Anesthesia Conversion Factors, including the updates for 109 different states and localities adjusted using Geographic Practice Cost Indices (GPCIs). The Anesthesia Conversion Factors are used to compute allowable amounts for anesthesia services, all of which became effective Jan. 1, 2026. See the analysis and table on theAANA Reimbursement webpage under the drop down“ CY 2026 Medicare Anesthesia Conversion Factors.” The PDF table listing all 109 Medicare Anesthesia Conversion Factors can be found here.
Significant News
Application Deadline is Next Week:
Become a 2026 Fellow of the AANA
The Fellows of the AANA (FAANA) represent the highest level of achievement in nurse anesthesiology. These distinguished leaders advance the profession through clinical excellence, education, research, and advocacy—shaping the future of patient care and practice.
If you’ve made a meaningful impact in the field, now is the time to take the next step. Applications for the 2026 class of Fellows close on Feb. 2, 2026, at 12 p.m. CT.
The application process requires thoughtful preparation, so don’t wait. Begin your application today to ensure your achievements are considered among the most accomplished in nurse anesthesiology.
Season two of Grade 1 View launched this month with new voices, fresh perspectives and the same honest conversations future CRNA/nurse anesthesiologists count on. Founding host Olivia Conn, DNP, RN introduces the new host team as they share real stories about the path to CRNA school and the power of community.
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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