October 14, 2024

Dear Colleagues,

As this message goes out, our hearts are with all those affected by devastation caused by two massive hurricanes hitting the southeastern United States in just a few weeks.  

The AANA and Council on Accreditation of Nurse Anesthesia Educational Programs are continuing to monitor the situation to determine what support can be offered to regional programs. If you would like to help directly, please consider a donation to the American Red Cross. Additionally, Charity Navigator has compiled lists of organizations providing relief services to areas impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. 

While the hurricanes and upcoming elections dominate the news, AANA continues with the crucial, day-to-day work of advocating for our members in all aspects of your practice at the state and local levels. We couldn’t do what we do without your strong support.  

Thank you for being a part of the AANA. 

Sincerely, 

The AANA Board of Directors 

IN THIS ISSUE

• Podcast: AANA Files a Lawsuit to Prevent Discrimination Against CRNAs 

• AANA Attends Governor Meetings 

• Help Elect Nurses and Nursing Champions to Office  

• Are You Registered to Vote?  

• Oppose Legislation Harming Veterans' Access to Care 

• Helene Damaged a Factory That Makes IV Fluids 

• DEA Issues Warning About Illegal Online Pharmacies 

ADVOCACY UPDATES

Podcast: AANA Files a Lawsuit to Prevent Discrimination Against CRNAs 

On Friday, September 27, AANA filed a petition for a writ of mandamus in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio asking the court to compel Xavier Beccera, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), to perform a duty he is legally obligated to perform — enforce the provider non-discrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) against insurance companies and health plans.  

AANA CEO Bill Bruce, MBA, CAE; AANA President Janet Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), ASAFR, NC; and AANA President-elect Jeff Molter, MBA, MSN, CRNA, appeared on the "Beyond the Mask" podcast to discuss the filing and what AANA hopes to accomplish.  

AANA Attends Governor Meetings

AANA State Government Affairs (SGA) staff attended the Democratic Governors Association Fall Policy Conference in Philadelphia in October. Ten governors were in attendance, and the meeting included a panel discussion on utilizing public-private partnerships to end the healthcare workforce shortage. SGA staff met with several states and used the opportunity to educate them on CRNA practice. This meeting helps the AANA to continue advocating for CRNA practice in the states. Pictured are, left to right: JP Mason, AANA associate director, State & Political Affairs; Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and his wife, Lori; and Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists President Angela DiDonato, DNP, CRNA. 

AANA Urges Agency to Alleviate Anesthesia Payment Cuts in Comment Letter on Physician Fee Schedule

In comments to the Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule for Calendar Year (CY) 2025, AANA urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to alleviate cuts in reimbursement to anesthesia providers, such as CRNAs. As stated in a letter signed by AANA President Janet Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC, “While we do appreciate that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed payment policy changes in this proposed rule that will have a positive impact on CRNA payment, we were disappointed to see a proposed 2.1 percent decrease over last year’s anesthesia conversion factor (CF) in this proposed rule. The positive impact on payment is not enough to make up for this cut to the anesthesia CF, as these constant cuts in reimbursement have not kept with inflation. These effects are compounded by the fact that private payers are cutting rates for CRNA anesthesia services…we ask that CMS help lessen the impact of this decrease in the anesthesia CF and to work with Congress to establish an answer. AANA would be happy to work with the agency in these efforts.” 

In Comments on Hospital Outpatient and ASC Payment Rules, AANA Urges that the Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for Obstetrical Services Recognize CRNAs Operating at the Top of Their Scope

In comments on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment Systems (OPPS) proposed rule for Calendar Year (CY) 2025, AANA requested that any final rule and corresponding sub-regulatory guidance regarding the Condition of Participations (CoPs) for obstetrical services for hospitals and critical access hospitals recognize CRNAs operating at the top of their scope with respect to the delivery of obstetrical anesthesia. The OPPS reimburses hospitals for outpatient services and ambulatory surgery centers, but also includes policies affecting inpatient hospitals that could have implications for CRNAs. AANA’s comment letter also acknowledged that the proposed regulatory text for the CoP was not problematic, but did request that the final regulations and sub-regulatory guidance not impose standards that are not based on evidence, such as the 2019 Levels of Maternal Care (LoMC) published by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The letter also requested that AANA be included in CMS’s development of sub-regulatory guidance as it relates to obstetrical anesthesia. 

AANA Attends Governor Meetings

AANA State Government Affairs staff attended the Republican Governors Association Senior Staff Retreat in September. Chiefs of Staff and Policy Directors were in attendance from every Republican Governor’s office. SGA staff met with several states and used the opportunity to educate them on CRNA practice. In October, SGA staff will be attending the Democratic Governors Association Fall Policy Conference in Philadelphia. These meetings help the AANA to continue advocating for CRNA practice in the states. 

SIGNIFICANT NEWS

AANA Announces New RN/APRN Membership Category 

AANA has announced the creation of a new membership category for registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Read more. 

Protect Your Career: The Truth About NPDB Reports and Malpractice Insurance

Discover how the National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) impacts your career and why having your own malpractice insurance with a pure consent-to-settle provision is crucial. Don’t let your employer's decisions harm your reputation. Read more and learn how to safeguard your professional future and ensure you're fully informed.  

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.