Bill Overview
Title: To amend title 38, United States Code, to improve the treatment of anesthesiologist assistants in the Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Description: This bill specifies that anesthesiologist assistants qualify for appointment to the Veterans Health Administration and additional pay.
Sponsors: Rep. Cawthorn, Madison [R-NC-11]
Target Audience
Population: Anesthesiologist assistants
Estimated Size: 1200
- Anesthesiologist assistants are recognized medical professionals who work under the direction of licensed anesthesiologists to implement anesthesia care plans. This legislation will directly affect their employment and compensation within the VA.
- The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, which means it will impact a significant number of such professionals within the VA system.
- Given the size of the US healthcare workforce and the specialized nature of anesthesiologist assistants, the global number employed in this role beyond the VA could significantly differ from those employed within the VA.
- While anesthesiologist assistants exist in several countries, this legislation pertains specifically to the United States, impacting those working or eligible to work within the VA.
Reasoning
- The policy directly impacts anesthesiologist assistants, a small, specialized segment of the healthcare workforce, particularly those working within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The impact on other segments of the population, such as veterans receiving anesthesia care, could be indirect and more generalized.
- Focusing on a small number of professionals means that the policy's immediate direct impact on the larger population's economic or social outcomes may be limited.
- Given the budget constraints, the policy can feasibly accommodate salary adjustments and employment increases for these professionals, offering substantial benefits to this niche workforce.
- Including individuals who are not impacted directly helps to contextualize the broader societal perceptions and the relative invisibility of changes that affect niche healthcare sectors, like that of anesthesiologist assistants.
Simulated Interviews
anesthesiologist assistant (San Antonio, TX)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think this is a great opportunity for people in my profession. Working within the VA could provide more stability and benefits that aren't available in all private hospitals.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
veteran (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not really sure how this policy affects my care directly, but anything that gets more qualified people into the VA is a good thing. Maybe it means shorter wait times for anesthesia. I'm all for that.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
nurse (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think recognizing anesthesiologist assistants with this bill is positive. They play a vital role in surgeries, and having more on staff can ease the burden during busy periods.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
retired anesthesiologist (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This bill should have been passed ages ago. Anesthesia care teams are crucial, and anesthesiologist assistants deserve recognition within the VA.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
VA hospital administrator (Seattle, WA)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy could make it easier to attract anesthesiologist assistants. They fill an important gap, especially when facing anesthesiologist shortages.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
anesthesiologist assistant (Orlando, FL)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This recognition and additional pay are exactly what we've been working towards. It validates our role in the VA healthcare system. I'm optimistic about the career opportunities this opens up.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
retired nurse (Boston, MA)
Age: 62 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This seems like a step in the right direction for improving healthcare delivery in our VA systems. Anesthesiologist assistants deserve this support.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
medical student (Denver, CO)
Age: 27 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy makes working for the VA more appealing. It reassures me that the role of anesthesiologist assistants is valued and supported within the healthcare system.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
hospital executive (New York City, NY)
Age: 42 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is necessary to fill the gaps in the anesthesiology field within VA hospitals. It should hopefully ease some workforce challenges we face.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
unemployed (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 3
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm not sure how this will affect people like me, but if it improves job prospects in healthcare, that could be beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 5 | 4 | 3 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $50000000 (Low: $30000000, High: $100000000)
Year 2: $52500000 (Low: $31500000, High: $105000000)
Year 3: $55125000 (Low: $33075000, High: $110250000)
Year 5: $60525500 (Low: $36315300, High: $121051000)
Year 10: $78660550 (Low: $47196330, High: $157321100)
Year 100: $1261741467 (Low: $756945880, High: $2523482934)
Key Considerations
- The CBO must consider the unpredictability of healthcare hiring and retention rates over long periods.
- Budget adaptations require broader considerations of pay equity across the VA system.
- Potential indirect costs might arise from further inclusion demands or compensation adjustments for other healthcare professionals.