VA Funding Bill Includes ASA-Endorsed Veterans' Patient Safety Language

As part of the fiscal year (FY) 2026 funding bill for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), a key Congressional committee included ASA-endorsed provisions intended to highlight the risk of weakening VA’s anesthesia patient safety standards. The influential U.S. House Appropriations Committee included language requesting the VA Under Secretary review the impact of the VA Office of Nursing Services (ONS) proposal to push VA to a nurse-only model of anesthesia and report back to Congress. Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (R-MD) spoke in support of the language.  Rep. David Joyce (R-OH), the Chair of the U.S. House Nursing Caucus and a supporter of the nurse-only model of anesthesia unsuccessfully challenged the language. The language represents another Congressional accomplishment by ASA in highlighting the risk to Veterans of repealing VA’s current anesthesia safety policy, Directive 1123.

“As the Veterans Health Administration considers policies that would disregard state anesthesia licensure and practice standards, the Committee requests the Under Secretary of Health submit to the Committee a report on how the Under Secretary intends to ensure that veterans who receive hospital care and medical services furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs, particularly veterans who are eligible for such care and services under the PACT Act (Public Law 117-168) and the amendments made by that Act, will not receive a lower standard of care than individuals who receive care in non-Department facilities located in the same state or jurisdiction.” (House Appropriation Committee, Subcommittee on Military Construction and VA Report)