As Chief Advocacy Officer, I’m pleased to be allowed to offer the ASA membership an update on the legislative and advocacy issues currently impacting the specialty and its patients.
Historically, ASA advocacy priorities have centered around advancing physician-delivered and physician-led anesthesia care and working to improve Medicare payments for services provided by physician anesthesiologists. The first half of 2015 was no different, as ASA advocacy efforts were focused on a major nurse independent practice initiative in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and on Congressional efforts to reform the Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) physician payment formula. ASA’s work on both campaigns is currently ongoing and will likely require continued engagement for the remainder of 2015 and beyond.
In its effort to preserve current anesthesia care standards for Veterans, ASA has been the leading organization working to successfully block the application of a VA nurse independent practice initiative, known...
