VANA statement on Senate passage of SB 33
RICHMOND, Va. – Following the passage of Senate Bill 33 by the Virginia Senate on Tuesday, the following joint statement was issued from Maria Hirsch, president of the Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthetists and the following supporters:
- Brian Brown, incoming CRNA Sr. at VCU Community Memorial Hospital;
- Jean Snyder, DNAP, CRNA, co-owner of Goodwin and Snyder Anesthesia Associates, PLLC;
- Howard Goodwin, DNAP, CRNA, CHSE, FAANA, co-owner of Goodwin and Snyder Anesthesia Associates, PLLC
- Dr. George Weston, Austin-Weston Center for Cosmetic Surgery;
- Michael Jackson, CRNA, president of Southampton Anesthesiology Associates;
- Dr. John Sheppard, MD, acting medical director, Virginia Surgery Center;
- Cheryl Miller, CPC, Administrator at the Virginia Endoscopy Group.
“The Virginia Senate has taken an unfortunate action in passing Senate Bill 33, effectively supporting a solution in search of a problem. The Virginia Association of Nurse Anesthetists stands in strong opposition to this legislation.
“Virginia is one of only a handful of states that requires certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to be supervised by a dentist, physician, or podiatrist – making CRNAs the only advanced practice registered nursing group that is required to be supervised to practice in the Commonwealth. It’s a puzzling requirement in the Virginia Code that has led to a wide variance in how facilities apply the law, created retention and recruitment issues, and increased barriers for Virginia patients seeking safe, high-quality anesthesia care.
“If passed into law, this legislation would significantly impact Virginia patients and CRNAs, exacerbating the already existing anesthesia workforce shortage. This legislation expands the definition of supervision to require the presence or immediate availability of a physician, podiatrist or dentist. Expanding supervision would limit facilities – especially in rural areas where CRNAs are often the sole anesthesia provider – by requiring unnecessary oversight that will hinder efficient anesthesia services.
“There are more than 2,300 practicing CRNAs and student nurse anesthetists in Virginia, working hard to provide high-quality, safe anesthesia care for patients. Virginia should be removing barriers for nurse anesthetists, like the overwhelming majority of states in our country already have. We should be implementing policies that help to create an environment that encourages increasing Virginia patients’ access to safe, high-quality anesthesia care – not adopting policies that will do the exact opposite.”
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