The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recently hosted listening sessions which allowed the AOA and other external stakeholders the opportunity to provide input on national standards of practice for 50 health professions across VA facilities, known as the Supremacy Project. The AOA sent a letter to the VA Secretary, Denis Richard McDonough, which called for a physician-led team-based approach to medical care. This approach ensures that professionals with complete medical education and training are adequately involved in patient care.
The letter also states that the AOA is deeply concerned that if the VA expands the scope of practice for healthcare professions that receive far less training than physicians, via the supremacy project, America’s veterans will receive a lower standard of care within the VA system compared to patients seeking care in civilian hospitals.
Protect Lifesaving Anesthesia Care for Veterans Act
To help fight back against inappropriate scope of practice expansion, the AOA and the American Osteopathic College of Anesthesiologists (AOCA) recently sent a letter of support for the Protect Lifesaving Anesthesia Care for Veterans Act of 2023 (H.R. 3347). This bipartisan legislation will ensure that physician anesthesiologists are appropriately involved in the provision of anesthesia care to our veterans and prohibits the Secretary VA from replacing physician anesthesiologists with nurse anesthetists. The AOA will continue to monitor H.R. 3347 and work with the VA to advocate for a physician-led, team-based model of care for the health and safety of our veterans.