AANA Applauds the Introduction of The Improving Care and Access to Nurses Act in Senate of 118th Congress ROSEMONT, Ill., July 20, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — A Senate Bill was introduced by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), joining more than a dozen Representatives…
, /PRNewswire/ — A was introduced by U.S. Senators (D-OR) and (R-WY), joining more than a dozen Representatives who are sponsoring the House version. If passed, the ICAN Act would remove practice barriers for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) by allowing them to provide more comprehensive healthcare services to patients across the country. The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) supports this legislation, which will remove physician supervision of Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) and provide access to CRNA services in Medicaid. “As the only anesthesia providers in most rural hospitals, and the predominant providers in underserved communities, CRNAs play an important role in maintaining critical access in communities across the country,” said AANA President , DNP, CRNA. “However, superfluous regulations serve as barriers to expanding care, especially at a time when those same communities face a shortage of providers. This critical legislation will help ensure that everyone who needs access to the high-quality care provided by advanced practice registered nurses such as CRNAs can have it.” Specifically, this legislation will ensure proper reimbursement for CRNAs to provide quality anesthesia and pain management for patients in Medicare, allow CRNAs to order and refer medically necessary services, permanently remove unnecessary physician…
