Jewish War Veterans Urge VA to Maintain Physician-Led Anesthesia Care in Congressional Testimony

The Jewish War Veterans of the USA (JWV) raised strong concerns to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees, warning that dismantling the physician-led anesthesia care team model would lower the standard of care Veterans receive compared to civilians. JWV urged VA to maintain VHA Directive 1123 as the National Standard of Practice for CRNAs.

JWV emphasized that the physician-led anesthesia care team model, utilized by the nation’s top hospitals, ensures Veterans receive care from both a physician anesthesiologist and a CRNA or CAA working together. They also cited recent concerns at the Minneapolis VA, where bylaws changes allowed nurse-only anesthesia care. JWV called on the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees and the VA Office of Inspector General to review the circumstances surrounding these changes and encouraged VA to give the National Anesthesia Program the authority and resources needed to support facilities and prevent further erosion of anesthesia care standards.

ASA appreciates JWV’s strong advocacy on behalf of Veterans and their support for maintaining physician-led anesthesia care across VA facilities.

Read the full testimony here.