PRINTER'S NO. 958
No. 823 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY CIVERA, STETLER, MAJOR, SCRIMENTI, MAYERNIK,
MAHER, READSHAW, BOYES, ALLEN, YEWCIC, DeWEESE, HORSEY,
KELLER, LAWLESS, LAUGHLIN, ROEBUCK, MICOZZIE, BASTIAN, BLAUM,
BUNT, BUTKOVITZ, CASORIO, L. I. COHEN, CRUZ, DeLUCA, DERMODY,
FICHTER, GANNON, HERSHEY, LaGROTTA, LEDERER, MANN, McCALL,
McGEEHAN, PIPPY, RAYMOND, SATHER, SCHULER, SEMMEL, SOLOBAY,
STAIRS, R. STEVENSON, STURLA, SURRA, TANGRETTI, TIGUE,
TRELLO, TRICH, WALKO, WANSACZ, WOGAN, WOJNAROSKI AND
YOUNGBLOOD, MARCH 8, 2001
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, MARCH 8, 2001
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112),
2 entitled "An act relating to the right to practice medicine
3 and surgery and the right to practice medically related acts;
4 reestablishing the State Board of Medical Education and
5 Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and providing for
6 its composition, powers and duties; providing for the
7 issuance of licenses and certificates and the suspension and
8 revocation of licenses and certificates; providing penalties;
9 and making repeals," further providing for definitions; and
10 providing for certified registered nurse anesthetists.
11 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
12 hereby enacts as follows:
13 Section 1. Section 2 of the act of December 20, 1985
14 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, is
15 amended by adding definitions to read:
16 Section 2. Definitions.
17 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
18 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
1 context clearly indicates otherwise:
2 * * *
3 "Certified registered nurse anesthetist." An individual who:
4 (1) holds a license to practice professional nursing
5 under the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The
6 Professional Nursing Law; and
7 (2) is authorized, by regulation of the State Board of
8 Nursing, to administer anesthesia.
9 * * *
10 "Health care facility." As defined in section 103 of the act
11 of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care
12 Facilities Act.
13 * * *
14 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
15 Section 15.1. Certified registered nurse anesthetist.
16 (a) Supervision of authorized services.--When a certified
17 registered nurse anesthetist administers anesthetics and
18 provides related services in a health care facility, the
19 certified registered nurse anesthetist shall be under the
20 supervision of a physician who is present in the health care
21 facility when the anesthesia is administered. The services
22 provided by a certified registered nurse anesthetist do not
23 include the prescription of medication or the performance of
24 medical diagnosis or therapeutics.
25 (b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term
26 "supervision" means medical direction provided by a qualified
27 physician who is responsible for the anesthesia care provided by
28 the certified registered nurse anesthetist. The board shall
29 promulgate regulations which define the medical direction
30 required by the standards of acceptable medical practice
20010H0823B0958 - 2 -
1 embraced by the medical doctor community in this Commonwealth.
2 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
B9L63VDL/20010H0823B0958 - 3 -