General Messaging for CSA Legislative Meetings and Fundraisers

Summer 2025

Personal intro: Introduce yourself, where you work, and your role with CSA.
- *Note* think about any impactful stories you have from patient care—legislators connect most with real examples from our work.

Association overview: I’m here today on behalf of the California Society of Anesthesiologists – an association of over 3,000 anesthesiologists in rural, urban, academic, and private practices throughout the state. California also has over 600 anesthesia residents in training at 13 institutions across the state – helping grow the healthcare workforce pipeline.

Legislator experience with anesthesia: How familiar are you with the CSA? What do you know about the different anesthesia providers and how care is delivered?

Overview of the physician led anesthesia care approach: There are different anesthesia providers (MD/DO, residents, CRNA, CAA). The safest anesthesia care model includes an MD/DO anesthesiologist, whether that be as a solo practitioner, or supervising multiple mid-level practitioners.

Guardians of patient safety: Anesthesiologists are physicians and guardians of patient safety before, during, and after surgery, and in pain medicine. We are leaders in the operating room, in the delivery room, in the intensive care unit, in pain clinics, in surgery centers, and hospitals.

Highest levels of training: With advanced education and training, anesthesiologists ensure the highest quality, safest care, and the best patient outcomes. Mid-level providers (CRNA’s, CAAs) are qualified members of an anesthesia care team, but they can’t replace a physician’s 12 years of education and 12,000 to 16,000 hours of clinical training.
Reduced costs and improved outcomes: Physician-led anesthesia care also reduces costs by improving patient outcomes and saving lives, while reducing medical consultations, unnecessary tests, and surgeries canceled due to medical reasons.

Safe opioid use: Anesthesiologists advocate in the hospital and in the community to fight the opioid epidemic and promote safe opioid use. CSA created a tool kit in collaboration with the California Ambulatory Surgery Association to promote safe opioid use best practices for patients and surgery centers.
Research and development of best practices: Anesthesiologists create and disseminate the highest safety standards to ensure care is provided with the most up-to-date, data-driven information. This information is shared through our association and at our educational conferences where anesthesiologists from all over come together to network, build new skills, and become leaders of the profession.
Nurturing the healthcare pipeline: Through CSA’s partnership with Project Lead the Way, we engage with high school students, offering hands-on learning experiences in medicine and anesthesia. This initiative helps foster early interest and appreciation for healthcare careers.
Supporting physician wellness: The CSA helps practices at all levels determine the safest approaches to delivering care while prioritizing physician wellness. This focus on well-being aims to prevent burnout and promote the retention of top-tier providers.

Ensure your district facilities have physician led anesthesia care: I encourage your office to be connected with hospitals, health systems, and surgery centers in your district to ensure that patients have access to physician-led anesthesia care.
Use CSA as a resource: Anytime an anesthesia or sedation related legislative matter, regulatory proposal, or issue arises at the Capitol or in your district, please contact CSA to provide subject matter expertise and discuss the impact on your constituents seeking access to health care services. This is especially true for patients undergoing surgery, being prescribed opioids, seeking acute and/or chronic pain management services, needing dental anesthesia, or facing the current dangers with illicit fentanyl.