Two U.S. representatives recently introduced legislation that would allow certified registered nurse anesthetists and physician anesthesiologists to provide anesthesia autonomously at the Veterans Health Administration.
While the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology has expressed its support for the legislation, the American Society of Anesthesiologists issued a statement “strongly opposing” the legislation in a March 24 news release obtained by Becker’s.
Currently, Defense Health Agency policy allows CRNAs to practice independently, and the Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025 would align the VHA with those regulations.
The ASA believes that the legislation would “dismantle the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ proven and well-established physician-led, team-based model of anesthesia care and move VA hospitals and clinics nationwide to a rarely used nurse-only model that would lower the standard and quality of care for America’s Veterans.”
The VA employs more than 1,000 anesthesiologists nationwide, and a review of VA’s vacancy data shows no systemic shortage of anesthesiologists in the VA healthcare system, according to the release.