American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology Urges Congress to Put Patients’ Care First

AANA Sends Letter to Congressional Leadership Urging Inclusion of ICAN Act in End of Year Packages

ROSEMONT, Ill.  – The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) today called on federal lawmakers to prioritize the inclusion of key provisions of the Improving Care and Access to Nurses (ICAN) Act (H.R. 2713/S. 2418) as Congress works to finalize year-end, must-pass legislation.

In a letter to congressional leadership, AANA President Jan Setnor, MSN, CRNA, Col. (Ret), USAFR, NC highlighted the critical role Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) play in delivering anesthesia services. CRNAs administer more than 58 million anesthetics annually throughout the United States and are often the sole anesthesia provider in rural and underserved facilities.

With healthcare access a growing concern nationwide, provisions in the ICAN Act would remove outdated legislative restrictions limiting the ability of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), including CRNAs, to provide high-quality care to Medicare and Medicaid patients.

“CRNAs are dedicated to delivering safe, effective, and timely anesthesia care and are trained to deliver this care autonomously,” said Setnor. “However, unnecessary legislative barriers continue to hinder our ability to practice to the full extent of our education and licensure. The ICAN Act will help ensure that CRNAs and other APRNs can fully utilize their skills to improve healthcare access for patients, especially in rural and underserved areas.”

AANA called on Congressional leaders to ensure these provisions be included in must-pass legislation:

• Eliminate outdated language restricting APRNs’ ability to provide full scope of care to Medicare and Medicaid patients.

• Allow APRNs to practice to the full extent of their education and licensure, thereby improving the healthcare workforce’s flexibility and capacity.

• Enhance healthcare accessibility for underserved communities, including rural and urban areas, where anesthesia care is often scarce.

• Help healthcare facilities develop a workforce that meets their specific needs, ultimately reducing delays and improving patient outcomes.

“As we approach the end of the 118th Congress, we strongly urge lawmakers to prioritize policies that support workforce flexibility and improve healthcare delivery for all Americans,” said Setnor. “The ICAN Act is a crucial step toward ensuring that CRNAs can continue providing exemplary care, without outdated barriers restricting our practice. We look forward to working with Congress to secure these much-needed changes.”