Last week, our incoming Membership Year 2026 Board of Directors met at the AANA headquarters in Chicago for orientation under the guidance of our incoming President, Jeff Molter. They took a big step forward in preparing to take the reins and are more than ready to assume this challenge and responsibility. As we prepare for the year ahead, we remain focused on advocating with payors like UnitedHealthcare (see the first news item below), legislators, and regulatory agencies to ensure fair reimbursement and support your ability to practice to the full extent of your licensure.
As we reflect on an extraordinary year and look ahead to a bright future for our profession, we’re inspired by the powerful partnership between AANA and our members. Check out the AANA CRNA membership and RN/APRN membership webpages and learn about the accomplishments and advancements your membership made possible this year.
AANA has been your partner at every stage—from aspiring CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist to resident, practitioner, educator, leader, and emeritus member. We hope that you will continue to stand with AANA and your colleagues as members and partners. Renewing your membership is an investment in the advocacy, resources, and support that continue to fuel your success.
Thank you, as always, for all that you do and for your continued support.
In its July 2025 Commercial Reimbursement Policy Update Bulletin, UnitedHealthcare announced that “Effective for dates of service on or after October 1, 2025, a 15% reduction in reimbursement will be applied to claims submitted for services rendered by a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) for personally performed anesthesia services when appended with the QZ modifier.” The QZ modifier means CRNAs working independently and legally working to the top of their license.
The change will affect all providers except those in Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Wyoming.
In a statement issued on July 2, AANA President Janet Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC, said: “This is yet another attempt to discriminate against CRNAs by offering less compensation for their skills, expertise, and time. All anesthesia providers are trained in and use the exact same techniques to administer anesthesia, yet no other providers face the same cut – United Healthcare is blatantly targeting CRNAs, based on their licensure alone. This action is unlawful, unacceptable, and unconscionable, particularly as our nation continues to face a shortage of anesthesia providers."
AANA calls on UnitedHealthcare to follow the course of its peers in the insurance industry and reverse course on this discriminatory policy immediately. We also call on Health and Human Services to enforce the provider nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act to protect patients’ access to care.
Ohio Enacts Reimbursement Non-Discrimination Law
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 96 on June 30, 2025. Effective October 1, 2025, this law provides that a health plan that covers health services that a CRNA may perform is prohibited from differentiating in the reimbursement rate for such service based on whether the service was provided by a CRNA or by a physician. The law states that health plans are not prohibited from establishing variable reimbursement rates based on quality or performance measures. CRNA and Ohio State Representative Kellie Deeter and the Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists successfully pushed for this law.
2025 State Legislative Sessions Update
All 50 state legislatures are in session in 2025. As of 6/30/2025:
Over 20 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, pain management, and/or reimbursement issues.
Over 20 states have faced opposition legislation (e.g., AAs, title restriction, supervision, restrictions, pain management, office surgery), with some states facing opposition legislation on more than one topic.
Proactive legislation by topic:
Opposition legislation by topic:
Your Voice Matters To Your Legislators—Make Sure They Hear From You
Last month, AANA launched issue ads in the home districts of members of Congress who have continuously opposed CRNA full practice authority in the VA: Representatives Brendan Boyle (D-PA), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY), and Mariannette Miller Meeks (R-IA). Most recently, these legislators signed a letter to VA Secretary Doug Collins asking the VA to maintain costly and unnecessary supervision of CRNAs. If you live in one of these districts, please follow the links below to participate today.
Mark Your Calendar: AANA Bylaws and Resolutions Townhall
July 21 at 7 p.m. CT.
Hosted by the Bylaws and Resolutions Committee, this informal virtual townhall will offer the opportunity to ask questions about proposed Bylaw amendments and resolutions to be debated at the AANA Annual Business Meeting. Visit the Annual Business Meeting webpage to register for the townhall.
Smarter Delivery. Same Trusted Journal.
AANA is updating how the AANA Journal is delivered to better match how most members engage with content—while still honoring the value of print.
Beginning this year, the AANA Journal will be delivered digitally by default to all members. Prefer a print copy? Just opt in during renewal or update your member profile.
This change reduces waste, saves costs, and reinvests in the programs that matter most to you.
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.
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