Thank you to the state leaders who took time from their busy schedules to join us at the State Leadership Boot Camp, held Oct. 17-19. As always, we came away from this gathering inspired by the caliber of our state leaders and confident that the future of our profession is in good hands.
We were glad to see this event continue to grow, with 83 state leaders representing 38 state associations, along with one state association executive director and a representative from the Association of Veterans Affairs Nurse Anesthetists. That’s a 22% increase over last year.
We are pleased to report that AANA’s first-ever social media takeover on Oct. 16, in honor of World Anesthesia Day, was a resounding success. A diverse group of CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists and RRNAs from across the country took over AANA’s Instagram and Facebook accounts to share their inspiring stories about the profession. Thank you to all who participated—you made us proud!
As you can see from the news items below, AANA continues to advocate for you and the profession on multiple fronts. AANA is monitoring the federal government shutdown situation and will provide updates on the 2025 Federal Executive Actions webpage, including relevant contingency plans and other agency activities. The page also includes a link to AANA’s recent webinar on the shutdown and its potential impact on CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist practice.
Thank you for your support
We couldn’t accomplish what we do—and hope to do—without your support as AANA members. A gentle reminder: If you haven’t renewed your AANA membership, your access to member benefits will end Oct. 31.
As always, thank you for all that you do and for supporting your colleagues and your profession.
If you have general questions for the Board of Directors, please reach out to them at: Board-of-Directors@aana.com
To avoid multiple responses, the AANA Vice President will triage these inquiries and reply on behalf of the Board.
In This Issue
New AANA Resource Explains Why CRNAs Should Care About QZ Reimbursement Cuts
5 Key Takeaways for CRNAs/Nurse Anesthesiologists from the 2025 Federal Government Shutdown
MACs Propose Limiting Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Chronic Pain; AANA is Taking Action
AANA Attends Governors Meeting
Alabama Amends Facility Rules to Align with CRNA Provisions in the Nursing Law
AANA Founder to be Honored with Historical Marker
Leadership Unlocked: What to Know Before Running for AANA Office
Advocacy Updates
New AANA Resource Explains Why CRNAs Should Care About QZ Reimbursement Cuts
Recent commercial payer policies cutting QZ reimbursement affect more than just CRNAs who bill independently—they impact every CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist and reverberate across the entire anesthesia care delivery system. They influence how hospitals and ASCs structure anesthesia services, how practices are staffed and compensated, and how CRNAs can work and care for patients.
Access this AANA resource for an overview of recent changes in commercial payer reimbursement policies affecting CRNAs providing services without Medical Direction/QZ billing, along with the downstream implications. This resource illustrates how cuts to QZ reimbursement threaten the financial foundation of anesthesia services, which in turn affect staffing, resources, and patient access to safe, high-quality care.
5 Key Takeaways for CRNAs/Nurse Anesthesiologists from the 2025 Federal Government Shutdown
The 2025 government shutdown has wide-ranging implications for CRNA/nurse anesthesiologists and the broader healthcare system. AANA outlines five key impacts — from workforce funding and Medicare delays to reimbursement policy changes — and how we’re leading the response. See the five key impacts
MACs Propose Limiting Peripheral Nerve Blocks for Chronic Pain; AANA is Taking Action
Several Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) have recently issued draft local coverage determinations on the use of peripheral nerve blocks for chronic pain management. The primarily identical policies eliminate Medicare coverage and reimbursement for peripheral nerve blocks for chronic pain use except for radiofrequency neurolysis for trigeminal neuralgia, corticosteroid injections for median neuropathy at the wrist, and corticosteroid injections for Morton’s neuroma. AANA is developing comments on MACs CGS, NGS, Noridian, Palmetto, and WPS draft policies and will share them with state associations and membership for development of their own comments. Stay tuned for further information on these efforts.
AANA Attends Governors Meeting
On Oct. 6–7, AANA State Government Affairs (SGA) staff attended the Democratic Governors Association Fall Policy Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. The meeting provided opportunities for SGA staff and CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist volunteers to meet with governors and their staff to discuss issues important to the profession. From removing unnecessary practice barriers to opposing proposed reimbursement cuts, AANA continues to advocate for CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist practice in the states.
Pictured on the left is Massachusetts Association of Nurse Anesthetists President Melissa Croad, MSNA, CRNA, APRN, with Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey.
Alabama Amends Facility Rules to Align with CRNA Provisions in the Nursing Law
The Alabama Department of Public Health (DPH) has adopted amendments to hospital and ambulatory surgery center (ASC) rules to align with previous legislation related to CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist practice. The revised rules remove an inconsistent reference to “supervision” of CRNAs in ASC rules and amend hospital and ASC regulations to reflect the nurse practice act’s provisions, allowing CRNA/nurse anesthesiologist practice under the direction of, or in coordination with, a physician, dentist, or podiatrist.
The Alabama Association of Nurse Anesthetists successfully opposed a public comment requesting that “anesthesiologist” be added to the list of providers. The DPH declined to include the term in the final adopted rules.
Significant News
AANA Founder to be Honored with Historical Marker
AANA founder Agatha Hodgins will be honored with a historical marker in Cleveland, Ohio. The marker will sit in front of the former Lakeside Hospital building on the University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center campus. Hodgins began her career in anesthesia at Lakeside in 1909 under the tutelage of famed Ohio surgeon George Crile. In 1915, she founded the Lakeside Hospital School of Anesthesia, one of the earliest nurse anesthesiology schools in the country. Ohio History Connection awards historical markers to people, places, things, or events that have made a significant contribution to Ohio’s history. As a pioneer in her field, Agatha Hodgins’ contributions to the science, education, and organization of the profession shaped the history of nurse anesthesiology. Here’s a preview from AANA President Jeff Molter, MSN, MBA, CRNA.
Leadership Unlocked: What to Know Before Running for AANA Office
Thinking about a leadership role within the AANA? Join AANA for Leadership Unlocked: What to know before running for AANA office — a relaxed, interactive conversation with current and former AANA leaders. Learn what to expect, hear insights from their experiences, and get your questions answered live.
Nov. 6, 2025 | 6 to 7:30 p.m. CT
Election nominations open Nov. 3, 2025, to Jan. 15, 2026
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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