H.R. 3347 – Protect Lifesaving Anesthesia Care for Veterans Act of 2023

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Updated January 20, 2026 at 7:36 AM UTC

The Protect Lifesaving Anesthesia Care for Veterans Act of 2023 bars the Department of Veterans Affairs from allowing anyone other than a physician anesthesiologist to have full authority to provide anesthesia to veterans. It aims to keep anesthesia care under doctors rather than certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). The rule applies to all VA health‑care facilities and any policies the VA Secretary might adopt.

Key Provisions

Prohibits the VA Secretary from changing policy to give full practice authority for anesthesia care to non‑physician providers, including CRNAs.
Bars the VA from finalizing, implementing, or enforcing the 2016 “Advanced Practice Registered Nurses” rule or any similar rule that would expand CRNA authority.
Clarifies that the prohibition does not stop the Secretary from issuing short‑term emergency orders needed for veteran safety during surgeries.

Legislative Activity

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2 earlier actions

HouseCommittee Latest Action

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

June 2, 2023

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

May 15, 2023

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Veterans' Affairs Committee

May 15, 2023

HouseCommittee

Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Health Subcommittee

June 2, 2023

Floor Debate

1 member

What members said about H.R. 3347 on the floor

1 Republican

Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemerR-OR-5 · Oct 26, 2023

Mr. Speaker, I hereby remove my name as cosponsor of H.R. 3347.

Bill Text

Latest available legislative text

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Introduced in HouseIssued May 15, 2023

I

118th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 3347

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

May 15, 2023

Mr. David Scott of Georgia (for himself, Mr. Turner, Mr. Garbarino, and Ms. Clarke of New York) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs

A BILL

To prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from replacing physician anesthesiologists with certified registered nurse anesthetists under the health care system of the Department of Veterans Affairs, and for other purposes.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protect Lifesaving Anesthesia Care for Veterans Act of 2023.

2.

Prohibition on replacement of physician anesthesiologists under health care system of Department of Veterans Affairs

(a)

Prohibition

The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may not—

(1)

modify the policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to anesthesia care in a manner that would provide any medical professional other than a physician anesthesiologist with full practice authority for the furnishment of anesthesia care to veterans under the laws administered by the Secretary (including by providing certified registered nurse anesthetists with such full practice authority); or

(2)

finalize, implement, or enforce the provisions relating to anesthesia care of the proposed rule titled Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and published in the Federal Register on May 25, 2016 (81 Fed. Reg. 33155), or any substantially similar rule.

(b)

Rule of construction

Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to issue any short-term emergency order relating to the safety, care, or well-being of veterans during surgical procedures.