Summary

Recognizes certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) as licensed independent practitioners in the Veterans Health Administration and sets clear practice standards aligned with Defense Health Agency guidance and VA CRNA practice guidelines. It also creates uniform qualification and activity requirements for all VA anesthesia providers and enforces suspension for noncompliance. Requires the Government Accountability Office to publish annual, public reviews of anesthesia care in VA facilities, comparing patient outcomes and cost-effectiveness across three delivery models: anesthesiologist only, CRNA with physician supervision, and CRNA without supervision. The reports must detail costs to VA facilities, taxpayers, and veterans’ households.

Key Points

• Makes CRNAs licensed independent practitioners within the VA, aligned with DHA and VA practice standards.
• Creates uniform qualification rules for VA anesthesia providers, including required certifications and a 25-hour minimum of direct patient anesthesia care.
• Applies to both physician anesthesiologists and CRNAs employed by the VA.
• Requires suspension of anesthesia providers who do not comply with the new requirements.
• Orders annual, public GAO reports comparing outcomes and costs for anesthesiologist-only, supervised-CRNA, and unsupervised-CRNA models.
• Requires cost breakdowns that include VA facility costs, taxpayer impacts, and effects on veterans’ household expenses.
• Aims to standardize practice and provide data to guide safe, cost-effective anesthesia care for veterans.

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