Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025

This bill, the Ensuring Veterans Timely Access to Anesthesia Care Act of 2025, would update how the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) handles anesthesia and pain management by aligning its standards with those used by the Defense Health Agency. It directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to recognize certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) as licensed independent practitioners within the VHA, consistent with DHA practice standards. It also sets formal certification requirements for anesthesia providers, establishes a specific amount of direct patient anesthesia care that providers must have completed, and creates enforcement mechanisms for noncompliance. Additionally, the bill requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to produce annual reports evaluating different anesthesia delivery models (physician-only, CRNA with physician supervision, and CRNA independent) and comparing their costs and outcomes. Overall, the measure aims to improve timely access to anesthesia care for veterans while increasing oversight and cost transparency.