As you know, the public comment period closed last week for the Department of Education’s proposed rule that would implement caps on federal graduate student loans.
Our sincere thanks go to all of you who supported future CRNA/nurse anesthesiologists by submitting comments through our action center. We set a goal of 5,000 comments and exceeded it by more than 600. This is record-setting for AANA and is especially impressive given the short 31-day comment period.
As we prepare for release of the final rule, be assured that your involvement makes a difference. We will keep you informed of future developments and our next steps toward ensuring the ability of future CRNA/nurse anesthesiologists to finance their education.
Another critical focus of AANA Advocacy is ensuring that CRNA/nurse anesthesiologists help shape the future of quality, accountability, and patient safety. As an example, AANA President-elect Tracy Young, MSNA, MBA, CRNA, recently represented nurse anesthesiology at the Patient Safety Movement Foundation’s 12th Annual World Patient Safety, Science & Technology Summit. Under the theme “The Power to Propel Change,” the summit brought together a diverse group of voices: patients and families, frontline healthcare professionals, hospital leaders, payers, policymakers, academic experts, MedTech innovators, pharmaceutical leaders, and community health partners.
Pictured second from right, AANA President-elect Tracy Young, MSNA, MBA, CRNA, participated in the Transforming Episode Accountability Model panel discussion.
Apply to Serve on an AANA Committee
Are you looking for a meaningful way to contribute to the future of our profession? Applications are open until April 30 to serve on an AANA committee. This is your opportunity to lend your voice, share your expertise and help shape the future of our profession. Committees play a crucial role in advancing our mission, and we encourage you to apply.
AANA Among 60 Organizations Supporting the Public Comment
On March 2, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley and Mississippi’s U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, along with U.S. Representatives Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02) and Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), led a bipartisan group of over 150 lawmakers in calling for the U.S. Department of Education to not make changes to post-baccalaureate nursing degrees that would saddle nurses with more student loan debt.
The lawmakers submitted public comment in response to a notice of proposed rulemaking from the U.S. Department of Education regarding changes to federal student loan programs that declassifies nursing degrees as “professional” and puts them in the same category as “graduate degrees.”
“We write with disappointment over the Department’s decision to omit post-baccalaureate nursing degrees from the regulatory definition of ‘professional degree,’” the bipartisan group of 160 lawmakers wrote. “This will make it harder for nursing students to access the loans that they need.”
“Nurses and nurse faculty make up the backbone of our health system, and post-baccalaureate nursing degrees lead to demonstrated outcomes,” the lawmakers continued. “As such, post-baccalaureate nursing degrees should be treated equally to other accredited post-baccalaureate health profession degrees.”
AANA is among 60 organizations supporting the bipartisan public comment. Others include the American Association of Colleges of Nursing; American Association of Nurse Practitioners; American Nurses Association; American College of Nurse-Midwives; Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses; National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners; National Council of State Boards of Nursing; and the National League for Nursing. Read more.
AANA Meets with US Governors
Staff from AANA’s State Government Affairs team met with governors from both parties at the Democratic Governors Association and the Republican Governors Association meetings in Washington, D.C., Feb. 19-21, in conjunction with the National Governors Association. During the meetings, AANA discussed the negative effects on rural healthcare of allowing anesthesiologist assistants to practice and the benefits to patients when unnecessary restrictions are removed from CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist practice. AANA also educated governors and their staff on the importance of reimbursement parity legislation and the harmful effects of insurers reducing payment rates. AANA will continue meeting with governors in the months ahead.
AANA Submits Comments on HHS Request for Information on the Adoption of Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Care
On Feb. 18, the AANA Federal Government Affairs (FGA) Regulatory Affairs team submitted comments in response to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Request for Information: Accelerating the Adoption and Use of Artificial Intelligence as Part of Clinical Care. HHS requested feedback from stakeholders who build, buy, use, evaluate, or receive care from AI-enabled clinical tools, as well as those facing barriers to adoption. AANA's comments focused on the following:
Including CRNA input in accurate coding nomenclature and valuation for AI services and tools.
Ensuring the primacy of clinical expertise and input when using AI services and tools to support clinical decision making.
Maintaining robust transparency, ethical safeguards, human oversight, and clear communication when utilizing AI services and tools.
The comment letter also requested a meeting with HHS to discuss the use of AI services and tools in the provision of anesthesia services.
2025 CRNA-PAC Annual Report Available Now
On behalf of the CRNA-PAC Committee, thank you to the 3,716 AANA members and staff who supported CRNA-PAC in 2025. With your help, CRNA-PAC had its second most successful year, raising a total of $1,137,048. CRNA-PAC ended the calendar year as the fifth largest healthcare professional association PAC – a record ranking. CRNA-PAC is bipartisan in its spending and disbursed more than $521,500 to candidates, party committees, and more in 2025. 51% of disbursements went to Republicans and 49% went to Democrats. Read our full annual report here.
As we enter the second half of the 2026 election cycle, we still need your help. With every U.S. Representative and one-third of U.S. Senators up for re-election this year, CRNA-PAC is focused on re/electing our champions and strengthening relationships with lawmakers who will champion CRNAs in the next Congress. CRNA-PAC is funded 100% by the voluntary contributions of AANA members, not dues. If every AANA member gave just $100 to CRNA-PAC, we could be one of the loudest voices in Washington, D.C. If you haven’t contributed, please consider making a one-time, monthly, or quarterly contribution today at www.CRNA-PAC.com. None of our work is possible without you.
If you have any questions about the information contained in this report, please contact CRNA-PAC staff at info@aanadc.com.
Significant News
Review and Comment on the Scope of Nurse Anesthesia Practice By This Wednesday
The AANA Scope of Nurse Anesthesia Practice is open for member comment. This document defines the professional role of CRNAs, education and credentialing standards, and the full range of clinical services CRNAs provide.
The updated draft modernizes the language to reflect all CRNA program graduates now earn a doctoral degree and includes revisions to Preoperative, Intraoperative, and Pain Management sections.
Your feedback helps ensure the Scope accurately reflects current education, practice standards, and the evolving role of CRNAs.
As you know, CRNA/nurse anesthesiologists have served with honor in significant roles across all branches of the U.S. military.
For more than four decades, an AANA resolution recognized members who served in the military. In August 2025, the membership approved removing that language from the resolutions document and instead creating a page on AANA.com honoring military CRNA/nurse anesthesiologists.
The page has been initially populated with photos and information about the military members of the AANA Board of Directors. We now invite interested military CRNA/nurse anesthesiologists (active or retired) to submit a military photo along with your name, title, service dates, and a brief description, if desired.
Please use the link above for additional information on how to submit your materials.
Thank you for your service.
AANA Foundation is Actively Soliciting High-Priority Health Services and Policy Research on CRNA Workforce
AANA Foundation is soliciting high-priority research in the area of nurse anesthesiology workforce. Funding will support survey research to better understand the demographics of the workforce, including type and location of practice, institutional characteristics, dual/concomitant practice arrangements, working conditions in those settings, and the barriers and facilitators to delivering high-quality care. Eligible investigators include CRNAs or investigators holding a PhD in discipline related to health services with a CRNA Co-PI or Co-Investigator. See the Funding Opportunity Announcement for full details on purpose, funding amount, eligibility criteria, deadline, and submission information.
Recognize Excellence in Our Profession
For nearly 80 years, AANA has honored individuals who have advanced nurse anesthesiology through clinical excellence, education, research, and advocacy. The Lifetime Achievement Recognition Awards celebrate outstanding CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists whose work strengthens our profession and improves patient care.
Nominations are due March 15 for the following awards:
Agatha Hodgins Award for Outstanding Accomplishment
Helen Lamb Outstanding Educator Award
Alice Magaw Outstanding Clinical Practitioner Award
Ira P. Gunn Award for Outstanding Professional Advocacy
AANA CEO Meets Future CRNAS at UNLV Open House
AANA CEO Bill Bruce, MBA, CAE, visited the recent University of Nevada Las Vegas Certified Registered Nurse Program Open House along with 200 prospective students. The current cohort, along with local CRNAs, led hands-on stations in adult and pediatric intubation, central & arterial line placement, peripheral nerve block, spinal/epidural anesthesia, and more.
AANA CEO Bill Bruce, MBA, CAE (second from left), watches an intubation demonstration at the UNLV CRNA Program Open House.
Member Highlights
How One CRNA is Advancing Cardiac Ultrasound
Mark Gabot, DNP, CRNA, FAANA, FASE, has spent nearly two decades in nurse anesthesia. In December 2025, he became the first Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) to be inducted as a Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)—and only the second advanced practice registered nurse to receive the distinction. Read more.
The Compassionate Work of a CRNA in Dentistry
The first thing Cathy A. Harrison, DNAP, MSN, CRNA, notices when a child arrives at the dental office is not their chart, but their body language. She keeps a keen eye on the way their shoulders tense and how tightly their hands cling to a parent’s sleeve. After over 25 years of providing dental anesthesia, she’s perfectly attuned to how a child’s fear grows even before a single word is spoken. 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.
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