Lauren Underwood (D-IL)
Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025
A Democratic bill with 7 Republican cosponsors · See all 16 cosponsors
Last activity — Subcommittee Hearings Held
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025," directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update certain standards. It requires the updating of VHA Directive 1123 to recognize certified registered nurse anesthetists as licensed independent practitioners. The bill also establishes specific certification requirements for physician anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists. Additionally, anesthesia professionals must complete at least 25 hours of direct patient anesthesia care. The Secretary is also required to suspend any anesthesia professional who does not comply with these new requirements. Finally, the GAO must submit annual reports regarding anesthesia delivery models and their cost effectiveness.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +7
Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together?
Veterans benefit from updated standards that aim to ensure timely and high-quality anesthesia care.
- Scored +6
Does this help veterans get medical care?
The bill enhances veterans' healthcare by recognizing nurse anesthetists as independent practitioners and ensuring high certification standards.
- Scored +5
Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive?
The bill improves veteran benefits by updating standards for anesthesia care within the VA system.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Recognition of Nurse Anesthetists: The bill directs the Secretary to update VHA Directive 1123 to recognize certified registered nurse anesthetists as licensed independent practitioners, aligning with standards used by the Defense Health Agency (Section 2).
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Increased Standards for Professionals: The bill sets specific certification requirements for both physician anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists to ensure they are certified by recognized bodies (Section 3(a)).
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Requirement for Direct Experience: Anesthesia professionals will be required to have completed at least 25 hours of direct patient anesthesia care, not including supervision (Section 3(b)).
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Transparency and Cost Analysis: The GAO will submit annual, publicly available reports regarding anesthesia delivery outcomes and a comparison of the cost effectiveness of different models, including the estimated costs to medical facilities, taxpayers, and veterans' households (Section 4).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Employment Suspensions: The Secretary is required to suspend from employment any anesthesia professional who fails to comply with the certification or direct care requirements set forth in the bill (Section 3(c)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would veterans be better off under this, taking everything together? — Veterans benefit from updated standards that aim to ensure timely and high-quality anesthesia care.
- Healthcare
- Does this help veterans get medical care? — The bill enhances veterans' healthcare by recognizing nurse anesthetists as independent practitioners and ensuring high certification standards.
- National Security And Foreign Policy
- Does this increase the pay, pensions or support veterans receive? — The bill improves veteran benefits by updating standards for anesthesia care within the VA system.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires public reporting of anesthesia outcomes and costs to increase transparency.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this make the government pay for what it commits to? — The bill mandates GAO reporting on the cost effectiveness of different anesthesia delivery models to inform taxpayer savings.
- 6/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/12/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/11/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 11/4/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/18/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 8/19/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/10/2025
- 2 Cosponsors added.
- 7/7/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/24/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/23/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/11/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
- Subcommittee Hearings Held
- 6/2/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/29/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/28/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/4/2025
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- 3/18/2025
- Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
Suzanne BonamiciDemocrat · Oregon
Jack BergmanRepublican · Michigan
Becca BalintDemocrat · Vermont
Yvette ClarkeDemocrat · New York
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Josh GottheimerDemocrat · New Jersey
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
David JoyceRepublican · Ohio
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
Jennifer KiggansRepublican · Virginia
Kimberlyn King-HindsRepublican · Northern Mariana Islands
Janice SchakowskyDemocrat · Illinois
Adrian SmithRepublican · Nebraska
Bennie ThompsonDemocrat · Mississippi
Glenn ThompsonRepublican · Pennsylvania
Derrick Van OrdenRepublican · Wisconsin