Ep 47: How Legal Cases Have Shaped the CRNA Industry

We were on location at the North Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists and wanted to get a historical perspective on CRNAs. With the help of past AANA presidents Sandy Ouellette and Nancy Maree, we take a look back at the important battles fought and won by nurse anesthetists through the years that help shape the way our industry operates today.   Full show notes: https://beyondthemaskpodcast.com/?p=2167    On today's show:  1:37 – We’re recording live from the North Carolina Association of Nurse Anesthetists meeting. 1:51 – Two popular guests, Nancy Marie and Sandy Ouellette, join the show. 2:37 – Sandy highlights some of the past challenges that will help CRNA’s unite and fight future issues. 3:12 – Background on Frank vs South and why that decision is still important today. 5:04 – The next important case involved Dagmar Nelson in the 1930s. 6:34 – The road to reimbursement was a 7-year process in the 1980s.   7:50 – How the ANA helped turn around the industry when it began dying out in late 80s. 9:25 – The ongoing issue of federal supervision of nurse anesthetists in Medicare. Why we need to remove it and what role states are playing.   13:31 – ANA threw their support behind antitrust cases. 18:06 – Antitrust fights still go on today. 19:24 – Nancy explains the antitrust and fraud case against Twin City Hospitals in 2004 and what came from it. 23:42 – What role has the ASA played in all of the challenges and crises the industry has faced? 26:30 – The recent Anesthesia Care Team statement and why many believe it’s restrictive. 29:13 – What can ANA members do today to help the association succeed and remain strong moving forward? 30:36 – Why membership is so important for ANA. 32:24 – New students and new graduates seem to be the biggest hole in membership. 36:20 – Can the ANA be listening to members better? Here are issues they have spoken out on. 40:24 – Jeremy’s perspective as an outside on the membership issue. 44:11 – Final thoughts from Sandy on why it’s such a great time to be a CRNA.