Lawmakers Urge VA Secretary to Maintain Safe, High Quality Anesthesia Care for Veterans

On Thursday, May 15, key lawmakers urged the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to protect safe, high quality anesthesia care for Veterans, while nursing advocates presented AANA talking points.  The statements occurred as part of a Committee on Veterans Affairs hearing, “U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal Years 2026 and 2027 Advance Appropriations,” and included testimony by the VA Secretary Doug Collins.

During the hearing, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA-26) spoke about the need to maintain a safe, high-quality standard of anesthesia care within VA. Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01) echoed that sentiment and also implored the Secretary to maintain physician-led care.  Later in the hearing, Congressman Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC-03) reaffirmed the position that the physician-led, team-based approach of anesthesia care was the safest for Veterans.

Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R-VA-02), a nurse practitioner and a long-time opponent of physician-led anesthesia care within VA, also addressed the issue during the hearing, to which the Secretary noted “we are still looking at that issue and we’ll be getting more input as we go forward.”

ASA applauds its longtime advocates for continuing to urge VA to provide the safest, highest-quality anesthesia care for those who have served our nation. 

Watch Rep. Brownley and Rep. Miller-Meeks discuss the importance of physician-led anesthesia care for Veterans.

Watch Rep. Greg Murphy discuss the importance of physician-led anesthesia care for Veterans.

Watch Rep. Kiggans’ remarks on anesthesia care within VA here.