Advocacy

LEGISLATIVE LOOKUP FOR LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS

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MoANA PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE:

 

CRNAs & SRNAs with Rep. JoAnn Emerson

Mid-Year Assembly Report

• CRNAs are part of the solution in healthcare reform. (CRNAs support promoting access, reducing costs, and enhancing patient safety and quality anesthesia care.)
• Commit to bipartisan efforts to boost nurse workforce development funding.
• Support equitable implementation of Medicare teaching rules for all anesthesia providers.

• The meeting on Sunday included discussions on the National Health Policy Environment for CRNAs and an in-depth analysis of issues for our Capitol Hill visits later in the week. With state legislative and regulatory activities increasing, state nurse anesthetist association leaders are increasingly seeking opportunities to network and discuss issues of common concern.
• On Sunday evening, several of us from Missouri attended the annual MYA Political Action Committee (PAC) fundraiser. The title of this event was “Reel Politics vs. Real Politics.” This event included a bus tour highlighting famous places in Washington D.C. where political movies were filmed, a tour of Madam Tussauds Wax Museum, and a reception at the Willard Hotel.
• It was announced that Region 4 won the Beat the Clock campaign for raising PAC funds. Region 4 consists of Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Oklahoma. Money raised here goes to help support our federal legislators, who are friendly to our cause.
• On Monday, Susie Dufek and I served as mentors for SRNAs. These SRNAs shadowed us for the day. It is a wonderful opportunity every year for students to follow members of the AANA who are in leadership positions. This program is provided by the AANA Foundation.
• Monday’s meeting included an introduction of the 2009 slate of AANA candidates and their position statement. We also had reports from the AANA President and Treasurer. Later that day we had the Region 4 breakouts and each state president briefly reported on what’s been happening in their state. Thanks to our Region 4 director Gary Clark, CRNA, for his dedication and leadership.
• A private reception was held for Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), who was the 2009 AANA National Health Leadership Award recipient on Tuesday morning. While she was governor, New Hampshire became the fifth state to opt out of the federal physician supervision requirement.
• Tuesday afternoon and Wednesday were spent on Capitol Hill delivering our message. The highlight of the MYA meeting occurred on Tuesday evening when all CRNAs and SRNAs from Missouri met in Representative JoAnn Emerson’s office and discussed our issues.