MANA - Mississippi Association of Nurse Anesthetists -

01/18/2026

Welcome to 2026 CRNA Week!

As we count down to the 2026 MANA Annual Conference that starts on Friday, January 23, we’re taking CRNA Week to shine a spotlight on the incredible Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists who care for patients in every corner of Mississippi.

Each day, we’ll highlight a different part of CRNA practice — the expertise, the compassion, and the commitment that make CRNAs essential to our state’s healthcare system.

CRNAs are often the primary anesthesia providers in rural and underserved communities. Their presence ensures access to safe, high‑quality anesthesia care close to home. This week is our chance to honor the professionals who make that possible.

Join us as we celebrate our profession, strengthen our voice, and continue advancing anesthesia care for every Mississippi patient.

Help us lift up the CRNAs who keep Mississippi safe, strong, and cared for.

01/14/2026

The 2026 MANA Annual Conference Program Is LIVE!

Our full conference schedule and presenter lineup is officially here, and this year’s program is packed with sessions designed to elevate your practice, strengthen your advocacy, and connect you with colleagues from across the state.

You can view the full program and list of presenters on the website and registration is still open!

Mississippi Association of Nurse Anesthetists is a professional organization committed to advancing quality anesthesia care, serving our members and promoting the nurse anesthesia profession.

01/12/2026

We are excited to share the date for our 2026 MANA Capitol Day!

CRNA's and students, this is your day to show up, speak up, and stand strong for our profession at the Mississippi State Capitol.

Join us for a day of a powerful advocacy in your state Capitol.

Your voice shapes the future of anesthesia care in Mississippi.
Make plans to attend. Bring a colleague. Let’s make an impact together. Register today!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Ftr7bTTCCZ4ZCYeaP0RxLPm7X4vaHBMklFFplyCYQt4/edit

01/07/2026

MANA Annual Conference — Registration Reminder!

Mississippi CRNAs, it’s almost time to come together for the annual professional gathering hosted by MANA. If you haven’t registered yet, now is the time.

This year’s conference is packed with powerful sessions, expert speakers, and offers community connections that strengthens our practice and our profession.

Whether you’re looking to sharpen your clinical skills, deepen your advocacy knowledge, or simply reconnect with colleagues from across the state, this conference is built for YOU.

Here are a few of our featured Speakers & Presentations (more to come later!):

Richard Wilson, DNAP, CRNA, FAANA
Ventilation Modalities: Technique Matters

Evoked Potential Monitoring: Goals and Anesthetic Recommendations

Thomas Baribeaulut, DNP, CRNA, FAANA
Opioid Free Anesthesia

Erik Rauch, DNP, MBA, CRNA, NSPM-C
New OB Intrathecal Adjuncts: Let’s Talk About Hydromorphone, Dexmedetomidine, and Dexamethasone

AANA Region 7 Updates

Michong Rayborn,
DNP, CRNA, FAANA
Current Challenges and Practice of Nurse Anesthetists in Finland, S. Korea, Taiwan, and United States

January 23 - 35, 2026
Fully Virtual

Let’s show up, learn together, and continue moving our profession forward. We can’t wait to see you there!

https://www.mana.us/annual-meeting-registration/?fbclid=IwY2xjawPLS09leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe2U0oiJ9OICDJ9PtZKVDlxdA136aqV4dxrF9WD_iHbEoYt3IzCrsL5KDpMLs_aem_f2WouN8lSj6bpDs-TjWaDQ

Mississippi Association of Nurse Anesthetists is a professional organization committed to advancing quality anesthesia care, serving our members and promoting the nurse anesthesia profession.

12/23/2025

Before the holiday rush is over, take a moment to invest in you.

Register now for our Annual Conference this January!

Join us for inspiring speakers, meaningful connections, and fresh ideas to kick off the new year with purpose and momentum. Signing up before Christmas means one less thing on your to-do list—and something exciting to look forward to in January!

Save your spot today!

January 23-25, 2026

Start the new year informed, inspired, and connected. We can’t wait to see you there!

Mississippi Association of Nurse Anesthetists is a professional organization committed to advancing quality anesthesia care, serving our members and promoting the nurse anesthesia profession.

12/18/2025

Statement:

This reclassification will expand opportunities for rigorous research into how cannabis and cannabinoids can provide pain relief, and how they interact with anesthesia and perioperative care, strengthening the science that underpins patient safety.

12/16/2025

Registration for the 2026 MANA Annual Conference is live!

The annual conference is a fantastic opportunity to connect, learn, and grow with fellow members across the state. Participating in the conference will provide:
*20 CEUs, including 6 Pharmacology credits (submitted for AANA approval)
*5 Pharmacology credits pre-approved by the Mississippi Board of Nursing to meet APRN Controlled Substance CE requirements.

All registrants will receive meeting access and the links to complete the Learner Assessments for CEU credits prior to the meeting. Completing the Learner Assessment is required to receive credit for attendance.

We will be sharing more details on speakers and sessions soon, but you can register now. We can't wait to see you (virtually) in January!

Mississippi Association of Nurse Anesthetists is a professional organization committed to advancing quality anesthesia care, serving our members and promoting the nurse anesthesia profession.

12/03/2025

ACTION ALERT!

As you know, the Department of Education has defined students in nurse anesthesia programs as graduate students, a move that would cap their federal student loans at $100,000. This cap will have a devastating impact on the pipeline of future CRNAs and worsen access to anesthesia care for all Americans.

AANA has been working tirelessly with Congress and the Administration to reclassify future CRNAs as professional students prior to releasing its proposed rule. Now, we need your help.

Senator Jeff Merkley is asking his colleagues in the U.S. House and Senate to join him in signing a letter urging Under Secretary for Education Nicholas Kent to reclassify students in nurse anesthesia programs, along with other post-baccalaureate nursing programs, as professional students. Please follow the instructions below to ask your legislators to sign on to this bipartisan and bicameral letter by the December 9 deadline.

Instructions

1. Click here
https://aana.quorum.us/campaign/149555/
and follow the prompts to be connected with your Senators and Representative.

2. You will be directed to a draft email to your legislators. Please personalize this letter as much as possible.

3. Share this call-to-action with your friends, family, and colleagues and encourage them to join you in this effort today.

Join the CRNAdvocacy Action Center to advocate for your profession. Stay informed about legislative developments and participate in impactful campaigns. Make your voice heard and drive positive change today!

11/13/2025

11/12/2025

Update on the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure Proposed Rule

Dear MANA Members,

On behalf of the board, I am pleased to provide an important update regarding the proposed rule from the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure. From the collective efforts of MANA, our partners, members, and numerous stakeholders, the proposed rule has been withdrawn.

This outcome reflects the strength in advocacy and our shared commitment to protecting patient access to high-quality anesthesia care across Mississippi. We sincerely appreciate the strong engagement demonstrated by so many throughout this process.

While this is a positive development, MANA will continue to closely monitor the situation and remain vigilant in safeguarding the interests of our profession and the patients we serve. Our mission remains clear—to promote excellence in anesthesia practice and ensure that Mississippians continue to receive safe, high-quality care statewide.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our shared goals.

And, thank you to Karyn Thornhill, our new Executive Director and her partner, Jamie Rasberry, for representing MANA at today’s meeting.

Let us celebrate this victory!
Sandy Weathers
Board President

11/05/2025

News from the Hill: AANA Federal Updates

AANA Urges Medicare Administrative Contractors to Revise Proposed Policies Sharply Curtailing Coverage of Peripheral Nerve Blocks

On Wednesday, October 29, AANA sent letters to five Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) urging them to reverse or modify recently released draft Local Coverage Determinations (LCDs) that would eliminate coverage for almost all peripheral nerve blocks and related procedures for chronic pain.

These MACs’ policies, which are essentially identical, would eliminate Medicare coverage and reimbursement for peripheral nerve blocks for chronic pain use except for radiofrequency neurolysis for trigeminal neuralgia, corticosteroid injections for median neuropathy at the wrist, and corticosteroid injections for Morton’s neuroma. The CGS, NGS, Noridian, Palmetto, and WPS draft policies would significantly harm the ability of CRNAs to perform and receive reimbursement for these crucial pain management procedures.

In addition to providing comments on these draft LCDs, AANA also provided draft letter templates to each state association and the AANA SRS/PRS program and also developed a separate grassroots alert to members. AANA will continue to support state associations and AANA members as we engage with the MACs on these proposed policy changes.

To join AANA’s grassroots action, please follow the links below to urge your MAC to protect patient access to safe, effective pain management.

Instructions: Follow the prompts to be directed to a pre-written email to your respective MAC.

If you provide these services, please personalize this email to tell your MAC how it impacts your patients and practice.

Public comments are open until November 8 for CGS, NGS, Noridian, and Palmetto, and until November 22 for WPS.

Join the CRNAdvocacy Action Center to advocate for your profession. Stay informed about legislative developments and participate in impactful campaigns. Make your voice heard and drive positive change today!

10/31/2025

Regulatory Update: CRNA Practice Under Threat
Dear MANA Members,

As many of you are aware, the Mississippi Board of Medical Licensure (MSBML) recently proposed rule changes that could significantly, and negatively, impact CRNA practice across our state. These rules threaten not only our professional autonomy, but also the quality, accessibility, and affordability of anesthesia care in hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and rural communities.

Despite widespread opposition during the public comment period, which closed this past Monday, the MSBML continues to advance these changes without credible evidence that CRNA-led care compromises patient safety. In fact, our services remain essential, effective, and cost-efficient—especially in underserved areas.

MANA has worked tirelessly to mobilize support from key stakeholders who understand the value of CRNAs in Mississippi’s healthcare system. Over 170 formal comments were submitted in opposition, including strong statements from:
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA)
National Council of State Boards of Nursing
Mississippi Board of Nursing
Mississippi Hospital Association
Ambulatory Surgical Center Association
Mississippi Rural Hospital Association
Baptist Hospital Systems, HCA, Lifelinc, Willow Anesthesia
Numerous individual professionals and organizations

Thank you to our MANA members who also took the time to respond to this call to action. We greatly appreciate you for sending letters and joinders in this effort.

What’s Next:
The MSBML will address these rules at its upcoming meeting on Tuesday, November 12th. The meeting is open to the public and will be livestreamed on their YouTube page.

We encourage you to watch the meeting live or you can watch the replay after.

What You Can Do Now:
Continue engaging with key leaders, especially surgeons and administrators you work with, to discuss how these rules could:
Undermine collaborative care
Shift liability and increase costs
Restrict access to essential anesthesia services

Your voice and advocacy are critical. MANA will continue monitoring this issue and provide updates as they become available.

Thank you,
Sandy Weathers
Board President