PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 958 PRINTER'S NO. 1780
No. 823 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY CIVERA, STETLER, MAJOR, SCRIMENTI, MAYERNIK,
MAHER, READSHAW, BOYES, ALLEN, YEWCIC, HORSEY, KELLER,
LAWLESS, LAUGHLIN, ROEBUCK, MICOZZIE, BASTIAN, BLAUM,
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, TRICH,
WALKO, WANSACZ, WOGAN, WOJNAROSKI, C. WILLIAMS, THOMAS,
FRANKEL, PALLONE, WASHINGTON, RUBLEY AND CLYMER,
MARCH 8, 2001
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MAY 1, 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 AMENDING THE ACT OF JULY 19, 1979 (P.L.130, NO.48), ENTITLED "AN <--
12 ACT RELATING TO HEALTH CARE; PRESCRIBING THE POWERS AND
13 DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH; ESTABLISHING AND
14 PROVIDING THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE STATE HEALTH
15 COORDINATING COUNCIL, HEALTH SYSTEMS AGENCIES AND HEALTH CARE
16 POLICY BOARD IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, AND STATE HEALTH
17 FACILITY HEARING BOARD IN THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE;
18 PROVIDING FOR CERTIFICATION OF NEED OF HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS
19 AND PRESCRIBING PENALTIES," PROVIDING FOR ANESTHESIA
20 SERVICES.
21 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
22 hereby enacts as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 2 of the act of December 20, 1985 <--
2 (P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, is
3 amended by adding definitions to read:
4 Section 2. Definitions.
5 The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
6 have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
7 context clearly indicates otherwise:
8 * * *
9 "Certified registered nurse anesthetist." An individual who:
10 (1) holds a license to practice professional nursing
11 under the act of May 22, 1951 (P.L.317, No.69), known as The
12 Professional Nursing Law; and
13 (2) is authorized, by regulation of the State Board of
14 Nursing, to administer anesthesia.
15 * * *
16 "Health care facility." As defined in section 103 of the act
17 of July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the Health Care
18 Facilities Act.
19 * * *
20 Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
21 Section 15.1. Certified registered nurse anesthetist.
22 (a) Supervision of authorized services.--When a certified
23 registered nurse anesthetist administers anesthetics and
24 provides related services in a health care facility, the
25 certified registered nurse anesthetist shall be under the
26 supervision of a physician who is present in the health care
27 facility when the anesthesia is administered. The services
28 provided by a certified registered nurse anesthetist do not
29 include the prescription of medication or the performance of
30 medical diagnosis or therapeutics.
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1 (b) Definition.--As used in this section, the term
2 "supervision" means medical direction provided by a qualified
3 physician who is responsible for the anesthesia care provided by
4 the certified registered nurse anesthetist. The board shall
5 promulgate regulations which define the medical direction
6 required by the standards of acceptable medical practice
7 embraced by the medical doctor community in this Commonwealth.
8 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
9 SECTION 1. THE ACT OF JULY 19, 1979 (P.L.130, NO.48), KNOWN <--
10 AS THE HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ACT, IS AMENDED BY ADDING A
11 SECTION TO READ:
12 SECTION 203. ANESTHESIA SERVICES.
13 ANESTHESIA SHALL BE PROVIDED BY A QUALIFIED PHYSICIAN,
14 ANESTHESIOLOGIST, RESIDENT PHYSICIAN IN TRAINING, DENTIST
15 ANESTHETIST, QUALIFIED NURSE ANESTHETIST OR A SUPERVISED NURSE
16 TRAINEE ENROLLED IN A COURSE APPROVED BY THE AMERICAN
17 ASSOCIATION OF NURSE ANESTHETISTS. ANESTHESIA SHALL BE
18 ADMINISTERED IN ACCORDANCE WITH DEPARTMENT REGULATIONS, WHICH
19 SHALL INCLUDE THE REQUIREMENT THAT ANESTHESIA BE ADMINISTERED
20 UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE OPERATING PHYSICIAN OR
21 ANESTHESIOLOGIST WHO IS PHYSICALLY PRESENT IN THE HEALTH CARE
22 FACILITY WHEN THE ANESTHESIA IS ADMINISTERED.
23 SECTION 2. THIS ACT SHALL TAKE EFFECT IN 60 DAYS.
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