OSANA Recognized with AANA’s Excellence in State Government Relations Advocacy Award

The American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology (AANA) will honor the Ohio State Association of Nurse Anesthetists (OSANA) with the Excellence in State Government Relations Advocacy Award at its upcoming Mid-Year Assembly, held in Washington, D.C., April 24 – April 29.

Beginning in 2018, OSANA conducted a strategic assessment of its advocacy efforts and created a plan to move the profession forward for its members. OSANA’s efforts included member practice site visits for legislators, allowing policy makers to observe firsthand the practice of nurse anesthesiology and how Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs), also known as nurse anesthesiologists or nurse anesthetists, work autonomously every day. Ohio legislators also learned about nurse anesthesiology "from within," after OSANA supported the successful campaign of Kellie Deeter, DNP, CRNA, CNP, to become the first CRNA elected to the Ohio House of Representatives.

Among OSANA’s recent legislative achievements, Ohio officially passed nondiscrimination language that holds insurers accountable for QZ reimbursement cuts. In addition, OSANA worked to enact legislation updating and modernizing outdated statutes governing CRNAs. The law modernizes Ohio’s anesthesia statutes to better align state law with the healthcare needs of Ohio residents. House Bill 52 replaces the statutory requirement for physician supervision with a collaborative framework that reflects how anesthesia teams currently function in many healthcare settings.

Please select this link to read the complete press release.