Thank you for supporting the VHA Initiative!

Pennsylvania’s CRNAs and SRNAs made sure their voices were heard during a 60-day comment period for the U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) rulemaking to authorize Full Practice Authority for CRNAs and APRNs working within the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) health-care system.

VHA received 167,000 comments nationally, which was 25 times more than any the agency had received since it instituted online comment submission in 2006. Beyond a doubt, this is a topic of keen interest to veterans, their families, and the American public.

We would also like to thank everyone who took the time to write a letter to their local paper about this issue. Anesthesiologists were also active letter writers in opposition to this rule and we were able to respond to many of their letters while also publishing letters proactively to push out our messages. Together we were able to have letters published in the following areas of the state:

• Allentown Morning Call

• Easton Express Times (Lehigh Valley Live)

• Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

• Scranton Times Tribune (two letters: July 19th, July 20th)

• West Chester Daily Local

• Wilkes-Barre Times Leader

All of us at PANA are so proud of the work so many of you put into advocating so strongly for this initiative. It could be months before the U.S. Veterans Health Administration announces its final rulemaking. You can be sure we’ll keep you posted. Thank you again.

Ann Culp, CRNA, DNP

PANA President

Derek A. Reckard, CRNA, MSN, PHRN

PANA Federal Political Director

Take Action for Full Practice Authority with VHA

The U.S. Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has proposed a new rule to increase access to health care for veterans by authorizing Full Practice Authority for all Advanced Practiced Registered Nurses (including CRNAs) who work within the within the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) health-care system.

Adopting the rule would allow CRNAs and all APRNs to practice to the full scope of their education and training while also standardizing VHA policy as recognition of the important work we do. More than 900 CRNAs currently provide every type of anesthesia care, as well as chronic pain management services, for our veterans in the VHA.

Unfortunately, the outcome of the proposed rule is far from certain, which is why we need you to take action. The VA opened a 60-day public comment period on May 24. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard!

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists and its coalition partners, including PANA, have long sought this initiative. However, anesthesiologist groups have been pressuring legislators to remove CRNAs from the list of advanced practice registered nurses receiving Full Practice Authority.

This is where you come in. It is critical for the Department of Veterans Affairs to hear from CRNAs like you! Tell the agency you support this change to Full Practice Authority by visiting www.veteransaccesstocare.com and clicking on “Take Action.”

Please share this post with your friends, family and co-workers!

Derek Reckard is the Federal Political Director for PANA and a resident of Finleyville, Pa. He is currently a practicing CRNA at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC).

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