Recapping LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE 2024

Through the LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE 2024 platform, ASA members were able to meet with nearly 200 members of Congress. In-person meetings allow legislators to hear directly from the experts – us – on pressing issues. Logging these interactions with lawmakers also provides insight into how meetings went and allows ASA staff to follow up, if needed (asahq.quorum.us/log/). As was emphasized throughout the conference, the development and maintenance of strong relationships with elected officials on Capitol Hill are critical to advancing our key advocacy initiatives. This year, there were three main advocacy topics: preserving physician-led anesthesia care for our nation's Veterans, holding health insurance companies accountable, and expanding access to naloxone. Additional advocacy topics included rural health care access, ensuring a robust anesthesiology workforce, and increasing patient access to care by establishing fair and stable Medicare payments for physicians.

Preserving physician-led anesthesia care for our nation's Veterans was again a top advocacy request at LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE 2024. As you may know, there is concern that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking to dismantle the current team-based standard of surgical anesthesia care and lower the anesthesia standard of care for VA facilities. Thank you to all attendees who engaged lawmakers on this important issue, and we encourage all members to engage by urging lawmakers to support legislation that preserves VA's existing physician-led anesthesia care team model (safevacare.org/campaign/60334). Furthermore, all members are encouraged to submit public comment urging VA to preserve high-quality, physician-led anesthesia care in VA facilities across the nation (safevacare.org/campaign/40485).

Chanin Nuntavong, Executive Director of the American Legion, joined us at the conference to address attendees on the importance of engaging lawmakers on efforts to maintain physician-led anesthesia care in VA. U.S. Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-39), Ranking Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, also presented remarks to attendees and highlighted congressional and committee priorities. Additionally, we heard from ASA Secretary Kraig S. de Lanzac, MD, FASA, who further mobilized members by showcasing a video that highlighted a recent satellite media tour with ASA President Ronald Harter, MD, FASA, and ASA Alternate Director for Washington State Bridget Bush, MD, FASA. The satellite media tour raised awareness and further mobilized support for ASA's Safe VA Care initiative (safevacare.org/inthenews). The virtual tour of the U.S. included interviews that aired in 15 states and reached an estimated audience of over 5.3 million people.

Furthermore, Safe VA Care “challenge coins” were developed for ASA members to distribute to designated lawmakers who have been recent supporters of maintaining physician-led anesthesia care in the VA. We sincerely thank all ASA members who have engaged legislators on this important topic and applaud future efforts, as continued advocacy is vital in protecting the proven team-based model of care.

Be an advocate for our specialty

This year, five members of Congress joined us at the LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE. In addition to Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA-39), attendees heard remarks from the first-ever anesthesiologist elected to serve the U.S. House of Representatives, Rep. Andy Harris, MD (R-MD-01). Rep. Harris serves on the Committee on Appropriations and is a member of the House GOP Doctors Caucus. He stressed the importance of anesthesiologists engaging in the legislative process and reviewed the latest congressional health care discussions.

We were also pleased to welcome two physician members of Congress, Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD (R-IN-08) and Rep. Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC-03). Rep. Bucshon (R-IN-08) received the 2024 ASA Excellence in Government Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership in health care. The Excellence in Government Award is given to congressional leaders for exemplary contributions to the medical specialty of anesthesiology, its practitioners, and patients. Both Rep. Bucshon and Rep. Murphy (R-NC-03) serve on key congressional committees and have been strong advocates on several ASA issues, including Medicare payment and surprise medical bills. Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL-03) also addressed attendees and shared tips on how to effectively engage and influence elected officials.

In addition to lawmakers, several physician leaders discussed policy battles at the state level concerning title misappropriation efforts, CAA licensure, and more. ASA Vice President for Professional Affairs Lois A. Connolly, MD, FACHE, FASA, and ASA Committee on Economics Chair Jonathan Gal, MD, MBA, MS, FASA, also presented a fireside chat on commercial and Medicare payment.

To further learn about ways to be the best advocate for the specialty, attendees were given the opportunity to learn, network, and discuss best practices during designated break-out sessions. These included opportunities to learn more about the Safe VA Care initiative, efforts to hold insurance companies accountable, and a discussion geared toward increasing resident engagement in advocacy.

Alongside our recognition of a member of Congress for their exemplary contributions to anesthesiology, its practitioners, and patients, the society also recognizes an ASA member for their leadership and contributions to our specialty and our patients. This year, for the first time ever, two ASA members were recognized for their outstanding work on the state and federal level. H.A. Tillmann Hein, MD, PhD, FASA, Past President of the Texas Society of Anesthesiologists, and Brooke Trainer, MD, FASA, Past President of the Association of VA Anesthesiologists, were recognized with the 2024 Bertram W. Coffer, MD, Excellence in Government Award. Dr. Hein has consistently advocated for anesthesiologists and patients by warding off policies that would have been detrimental to health care, including efforts to preserve payment for monitored anesthesia care during a time when CMS wanted to strike all payments for what had been previously called “stand-by anesthesia.” As a U.S. Air Force Veteran and full-time VA anesthesiologist, Dr. Trainer has been a prominent and fierce leader in efforts to maintain physician-led anesthesia care in VA facilities across the nation.

LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE 2024 was a success with hundreds of determined anesthesiologists coming together to protect patient safety and the specialty. The valuable insights and discussion that took place at the conference reignited the stage for impactful advocacy efforts. ASA members are encouraged to remain involved in ASA advocacy initiatives year-round. With nearly 500 seats up for election next month, I urge you to get involved in a federal campaign and engage congressional candidates. Additionally, please consider getting involved by joining the ASA Grassroots Network, signing up for ASA Team 535, and downloading the ASA Advocacy App. Residents are also strongly encouraged to engage and can consider joining the newly launched ASA Resident Advocacy Champion Program (asahq.org/advocacy-and-asapac/advocacy-tools/resident-advocacy-champion-program).

We encourage all members to attend next year's LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE on May 5-7 at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Please join us in the nation's capital and help us meet with even more lawmakers in 2025! Save the date and sign up now to be notified when registration opens (asahq.org/meetings/legislative-conference).