Newswise — WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Military veterans deserve access to the best healthcare possible without having to travel long distances or wait unreasonable periods of time to receive that care, concerns that would be alleviated if all advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), including nurse anesthetists, were recognized to their full practice authority by the Veterans Healthcare Administration (VHA), according to Sharon Pearce, CRNA, president of the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA).
In a statement submitted to the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee for today’s hearing on S 297, “The Frontlines to Lifelines Act,” Pearce shed light on the safety and cost-effectiveness of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) working in VHA facilities across the country. Although more than 900 CRNAs currently provide anesthesia and pain management services to tens of thousands of veterans each year, Pearce pointed out that CRNAs are not included with the other APRN specialties for recognition to their full practice authority under S 297, proposed by Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL).
Pearce told the committee that enabling CRNAs to practice to the full scope of their education, experience, and credentials will benefit the VHA and the patients it serves by improving Veterans’ access to safe, high-quality anesthesia care; promoting team-based care delivery; reducing Veterans’ wait times for receiving care; and bringing the VHA in line with the rest of the military health system.
Additionally, in a time when controlling costs is of paramount importance to the healthcare system, by taking full advantage of CRNAs’ abilities the VHA would save as much as $105 million a year in anesthesia costs alone, Pearce said.
Omitting CRNAs from S 297 puts these important benefits in jeopardy.
“Let’s not leave unfinished the critical work of ensuring Veterans access to quality care,” said Pearce. “Veterans, nurse organizations, and the AARP all support full practice authority for APRNs, including CRNAs, as the kind of common-sense solution our Veterans need now. Before acting on this legislation, we urge the committee to amend S 297 to add CRNAs to the list of APRNs and allow full practice authority to all VHA APRNs.”
About the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)Founded in 1931 and located in Park Ridge, Ill., and Washington, D.C., the AANA is the professional organization for more than 48,000 nurse anesthetists across the United States. As anesthesia specialists, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) safely provide more than 34 million anesthetics to patients each year for surgical, obstetrical, pain management, and trauma stabilization services. CRNAs are highly valued in today’s healthcare environment because they deliver the same safe, high-quality anesthesia care as other anesthesia professionals but at a lower cost, helping to control rising healthcare costs. In the military, CRNAs have proudly and courageously provided anesthesia care to enlisted men and women, officers, and veterans in all branches of the military, from the front lines to VA hospitals, since World War I.
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