Legislation proposes granting CRNA practice authority to expand anesthesia access for veterans

Editor's Note

Legislation introduced in the US House of Representatives seeks to expand access to anesthesia care for veterans by granting Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) full practice authority within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA).

The Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025 is sponsored by Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL) and Jen Kiggans (R-VA).  The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA), which announced its support for the bill March 19, notes that it would align VHA policy with the Defense Health Agency, which allows both CRNAs and physician anesthesiologists to provide anesthesia care autonomously.

According to the press release, the VHA’s anesthesia delivery model currently requires CRNAs to work under physician anesthesiologist supervision. CRNAs already provide independent anesthesia care in 49 states and the District of Columbia.

The organization points to recent reports from the Denver and Hampton Roads VA medical centers as examples of delays and cancellations attributed to restrictive anesthesia models. "This bill brings the first major step towards improving and streamlining veterans' care and experience through the VHA," said Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC president of AANA. "Allowing CRNAs to practice autonomously, like all other advance practice nurses do within the system, would immediately increase the capacity of the VHA to provide anesthesia care or other airway management skills to Veterans and decrease costs."