As we approach the final weeks of fiscal year 2024, it’s exciting to think that we will soon gather in San Diego and online for our Annual Congress. If you haven’t registered yet, there’s still time to join us!
Our Annual Business Meeting will take place on Saturday, August 3, from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM PDT at the San Diego Convention Center, Lower Level – Hall B, and online.
For more information, please visit the Business Meeting webpage (member login required). There, you will find everything you need to participate in AANA’s Hybrid Business Meeting, including the 2024 proposed bylaw amendments and resolution, updated Business Meeting Instructions, and Lumi instructions for both in-person and virtual attendees.
Additionally, don’t forget to join us for a webinar next Monday, July 22, at 7:00 PM CT. This session will provide valuable insights into the proposed bylaw amendments and resolution. Register here.
We look forward to seeing many of you in San Diego. Thank you, as always, for all that you do and for supporting your profession and your colleagues through your AANA membership.
A Conversation with Former AANA President Juan Quintana
CRNA Helps Save Girl’s Life Following Shark Attack
ADVOCACY UPDATES
CRNA Alert: Make Sure your Medical Staff Bylaws are Up to Date
The medical staff bylaws of facilities where CRNAs are the sole providers of anesthesia are under the microscope by some Centers for Medicare & Medicaid (CMS) surveyors. CRNAs who work without physician anesthesiologists in their facilities must assure that all medical staff bylaws and facility anesthesia policies and procedures reflect their practice model and do not include outdated practice models or conditions that no longer apply (e.g., older “anesthesiologist” language).
All CRNAs, regardless of practice model, should review their medical staff bylaws and relevant facility policies and procedures to make sure they are current and reflect actual practice. They should also determine if there are opportunities to revise these documents to optimize CRNA practice in conformance with federal and state law and applicable standards.
If CMS or an accreditor conducts a survey, they will review medical staff bylaws and policies and procedures to ensure that actual practice meets the requirements stated in these facility governance documents. They will also scrutinize whether credentialing and privileging requirements stated in these documents are being followed.
Fortunately, AANA has a wealth of resources that provide recommendations for CRNA involvement and leadership within facilities, including reforming outdated and restrictive bylaws to advance anesthesia care. Member login required. Please review these AANA resources below and do not hesitate to contact practice@aana.com with questions or if you would like additional guidance on facility regulation.
In June, AANA State Government Affairs (SGA) staff attended the Republican Governors Association (RGA) Spring Policy Summit in New Orleans and the Democratic Governors Association (DGA) Summer Policy Conference in Minneapolis. SGA staff and local CRNA volunteers met with several governors and used the opportunity to educate them on CRNA practice and removing barriers to practice at the state level. These meetings are a great opportunity for AANA staff and CRNA volunteers to continue advocating for CRNA practice in the states. Pictured here are Julie Gauderman, CRNA, with Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
CMS Publishes 2024 MIPS Exception Policies
Resources are available for MIPS-eligible clinicians if they are unable to report one or more MIPS performance categories for performance year 2024. CRNAs reporting individually or in groups or APMs can apply for an Extreme and Uncontrollable Circumstances (EUC) exception to request reweighting of performance categories. There is also an exception policy for the Promoting Interoperability category in particular, for which CRNAs who meet specific criteria can apply.
Help Elect Nurses and Nursing Champions to Office
Electing nurses and nursing champions to public office is a top goal of the CRNA-PAC’s Nursing Votes initiative. Now, we are making it easier for AANA members and the public at large to help us achieve this goal. Click here to make a direct contribution to CRNAs, other nurses, and nursing champions who understand the value that you bring to patients and the U.S. healthcare system. Will you do your part to help elect our leaders to state and federal office today?
Are You Registered to Vote?
With the general election coming up in November, now is the time to make sure you’re ready for your voice to be heard. You can register to vote, check your registration status, get your options for in-person and absentee voting, and see who’s up for re/election in your state and district at https://p2a.co/crnasvote.
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.
The AANA recently announced that HCA Healthcare has joined the AANA Corporate Partner Program as a Champion Partner, AANA’s highest level of sponsorship.
This partnership underscores HCA Healthcare’s commitment to advancing the practice of nurse anesthesiology and supporting AANA’s mission. The Champion Partner status indicates a substantial level of support and collaboration, aiming to enhance educational opportunities, research, and professional development for CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists, in the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered anesthesia care. Read more.
MEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
A Conversation with Former AANA President Juan Quintana
In a recent interview, Juan Quintana, DNP, MHS, CRNA, spoke about how the nurse anesthesiology profession landscape changed in the nine years since he served as AANA president in terms of opportunity for leadership in the healthcare space, advocacy, and interest in the profession among nurses Read about his perspectives here.
CRNA Helps Save Girl’s Life Following Shark Attack
For Taylor Goss, DNP, CRNA, a recent day at the beach turned into an experience she’ll never forget—and restored her faith in humanity. Working with other medical professionals, her skills as a CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist contributed to saving a teenage girl’s life. 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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