Congress Takes Key Step to Bring More Highly Trained Anesthesiologists to Rural America

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) today applauded the House Ways and Means Committee for unanimously advancing H.R. 9642, the Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act, bipartisan legislation that will expand access to anesthesiologists and high-quality anesthesia care for patients in rural communities.

ASA-supported H.R. 9642 would modernize Medicare’s existing rural anesthesia “pass-through” program by allowing rural hospitals to use already-available resources to recruit and retain anesthesiologists—ensuring patients can receive care closer to home.

“This commonsense legislation gives rural hospitals the flexibility they need to attract and retain anesthesiologists and strengthen access to essential health care services,” said ASA President Patrick Giam, M.D., FASA.

“Protecting access to anesthesia services will protect access to surgical procedures in rural communities and underserved communities,” said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO-08) during the hearing. “This bill will incentivize anesthesiologists who live in urban areas to practice in rural hospitals by extending them the same bonus payment currently offered to anesthesia nurses – sustaining access to care for patients.”

“[H.R. 9642] does not mandate who a hospital must hire, it simply gives them the choice,” said Congressman Ron Estes (R-KS-04) during the hearing. “I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 9642 to protect patient safety and maintain surgical access in rural America.”

“This simply allows anesthesiologists to just be back on par with our nurse anesthetists to allow them to get access to smaller hospitals,” said Congressman Greg Murphy, MD (R-NC-03).

The rural anesthesia pass-through program was created to help small, low-volume hospitals maintain access to anesthesia services by allowing them to use Medicare Part A funds to support clinicians rather than relying solely on insufficient Medicare Part B payments. However, current law excludes anesthesiologists from participating in the program—limiting hospitals’ ability to recruit the full range of qualified anesthesia professionals.

H.R. 9642 would address this gap through a targeted reform that does not expand program funding, alter hospital eligibility, or reduce access for any current providers. Instead, it simply ensures that rural hospitals can determine the best anesthesia staffing model to meet their communities’ needs.

In addition to H.R. 9642, the Committee advanced ASA-supported H.R. 3514, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at streamlining and modernizing the prior authorization process in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.

ASA thanks Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO-08), Ranking Member Richard Neal (D-MA-01), Congressman John Moolenaar (R-MI-04) and Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA-03) who introduced the bill, and members of the Ways and Means Committee for their leadership in advancing both these bills and urges the full House to act swiftly.

(Newswise/HG)