September 21, 2026

Dear Colleagues, 

A month into membership year 2027, our work to build on our profession’s momentum and shape its future has begun in earnest. We thank you for the honor of serving as your Board of Directors and look forward to working with you to move nurse anesthesiology forward.

We already have tremendous news to share on the advocacy front. Washington D.C. has joined 27 states and Guam in opting out of federal supervision requirement in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services conditions of participation. Congratulations to DCANA, our state advocacy team, and all who made this step forward possible.

Answers for your patients and their families

An essential priority for CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists as the authoritative voice in nurse anesthesiology is educating our patients and the public about what to expect before, during, and after anesthesia. We encourage you to explore our new website Anesthesia Answers and share it with your patients and their families. Developed by CRNAs specifically for patients, Anesthesia Answers breaks down important information about anesthesia into clear, easy-to-understand guidance. It’s another tool you can use to help ease anxiety, answer common questions, and empower patients to take a more active role in their anesthesia care.

Moving forward together

The Annual Congress Opening Ceremonies did more than mark the beginning of an extraordinary meeting. Speakers acknowledged the rapid changes in healthcare, including advances in technology and artificial intelligence, evolving approaches to education, and workforce shifts. However, the fundamental needs at the heart of nurse anesthesiology remain constant: patients will continue to need access to safe, high-quality anesthesia care from compassionate, well-trained professionals; students and nurse anesthesia residents will continue to need mentors to guide and support them; and the profession will continue to need people willing to lead, serve and help shape its future. If you couldn’t join us in Boston, read our recap.

What emerged throughout Congress, as it has throughout the history of our profession, is the power of unity. As former President Jeff Molter emphasized, unity does not require uniformity. It means bringing different experiences, perspectives and strengths to a common purpose.

Thank you for being a part of AANA’s present and future and supporting our shared common purpose.

Sincerely,

The AANA Board of Directors

In This Issue

• Washington DC Removes Barriers to Timely Surgical Care, Helps Ensure Safe Access to Anesthesia Services
• AANA President Tracy Young Champions CRNAs on Capitol Hill and in National Conversation
• AANA Urges Long-Term Solution to Sustainable Anesthesia Reimbursement in Comments on Medicare PFS Proposed Rule
• Delaware Enacts Reimbursement Payment Parity Law
• AANA Attends Governors Meeting 
• Last Chance: Submit Your Abstract for Annual Congress 2027 By Sept. 24 
• AANA Updates Key Practice Standards and Guidelines

Advocacy Updates

Washington DC Removes Barriers to Timely Surgical Care, Helps Ensure Safe Access to Anesthesia Services

Mayor Muriel Bowser is the latest to remove antiquated barriers to safe anesthesia care administered by Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) as the District of Columbia (DC) joined 27 states and Guam to achieve opt out status. DC is the latest to opt out of federal regulations that require physician supervision of CRNAs. Read more.

AANA President Tracy Young Champions CRNAs on Capitol Hill and in National Conversation

On Wednesday, Sept. 16, AANA President Tracy Young, MSNA, MBA, CRNA, and members of AANA’s Federal Government Affairs team met with nearly 20 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. They discussed AANA’s legislative and regulatory priorities, and the role CRNAs play in providing access to anesthesia care in communities across the country.

Young also recently spoke with Becker’s ASC Review about the future of nurse anesthesiology, how CRNAs help expand access to safe anesthesia care, and his vision for bringing the profession together under a “big tent” to move it forward.

Read the interview.

AANA Urges Long-Term Solution to Sustainable Anesthesia Reimbursement in Comments on Medicare PFS Proposed Rule

On September 1, the AANA FGA Regulatory team submitted a comment letter to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to the CY 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) proposed rule. The CY 2027 Medicare PFS proposed rule contains several major policy proposals that could impact CRNA practice and reimbursement. AANA’s comment letter recommends the following to CMS:

• Work with Congress and other stakeholders to implement Medicare payment reform to ensure long-term, appropriate reimbursement for anesthesia services.
• Ensure access for all Medicare Part B providers to meaningfully participate in Alternative Payment Models.
• Maintain an XXX global period for CPT codes 01953, 01968, and 01969.
• Support a fairer and more transparent process related to coding and valuation determinations with respect to the CPT® Editorial Panel and RUC processes.
• Ensure meaningful CRNA participation in the Medicare Quality Payment Program and maintain the use of clinically relevant anesthesia measures.

CMS generally publishes the Medicare PFS final rule in late October or early November before the January 1 implementation date. AANA will provide an update on the final rule when it is available this fall. We will also continue to engage with CMS on these and other payment- and reimbursement-related policy issues.

Delaware Enacts Reimbursement Payment Parity Law      

On Aug. 31, 2026, Delaware Governor Matt Meyer signed HB 435. The law creates reimbursement payment parity between CRNAs and physician anesthesiologists providing the same services. The reimbursement payment parity applies to all policies, contracts, or certificates issued, renewed, modified, altered, amended, or reissued after Dec. 31, 2026. The law is effective immediately. The Delaware Association of Nurse Anesthetists lobbied for this bill. 

AANA Attends Governors Meeting

On Sept. 10-11, AANA State Government Affairs staff attended the Democratic Governors Association Fall Policy Conference in Louisville, Kentucky. Six governors and 14 Democratic candidates for governor attended. The meeting included a panel on increasing rural access to healthcare and offered several opportunities to speak with governors, candidates, and their staff.

State Government Affairs staff discussed how CRNA/nurse anesthesiologists can increase access to healthcare when barriers such as restrictive state laws or discriminatory reimbursement policies are removed.

AANA is also a member of the Republican Governors Association and will attend its Senior Staff Retreat this fall.

Last Chance: Submit Your Abstract for Annual Congress 2027 By Sept. 24 

Bring your research, clinical expertise, or innovative ideas to the national stage. Submit your abstract for Annual Congress 2027, happening Aug. 8-2 in New Orleans. Be part of the program that delivers timely, evidence-based anesthesia education.  Submit your abstract.

• Deadline to submit: Sept. 24, 2026, at noon CT  
• Grading concludes: Oct. 29, 2026  
• Notifications sent: Jan. 14, 2027  

AANA Updates Key Practice Standards and Guidelines

At Annual Congress, the AANA Board of Directors approved updates to two key practice resources: the Standards for Nurse Anesthesia Practice and Analgesia and Anesthesia for the Obstetric Patient, Practice Guidelines. Both were revised to reflect current best practices and evidence-based care. 

The updated Standards for Nurse Anesthesia Practice include additional detail on the plan of care, verification of advance directives, greater emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration during patient positioning, more detailed monitoring standards, and a new standard addressing the integration of technology. 

The updated Analgesia and Anesthesia for the Obstetric Patient, Practice Guidelines provide additional guidance on respectful care, mental health considerations, breakthrough pain during cesarean delivery, and the conversion of labor epidural analgesia to anesthesia. 

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