PRINTER'S NO. 4627
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No.
2976
Session of
2020
INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, KULIK, GREEN, HARKINS AND KORTZ,
NOVEMBER 30, 2020
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
NOVEMBER 30, 2020
AN ACT
Amending the act of December 20, 1985 (P.L.457, No.112),
entitled "An act relating to the right to practice medicine
and surgery and the right to practice medically related acts;
reestablishing the State Board of Medical Education and
Licensure as the State Board of Medicine and providing for
its composition, powers and duties; providing for the
issuance of licenses and certificates and the suspension and
revocation of licenses and certificates; provided penalties;
and making repeals," further providing for definitions; and
providing for anesthesiologist assistants.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 2 of the act of December 20, 1985
(P.L.457, No.112), known as the Medical Practice Act of 1985, is
amended by adding definitions to read:
Section 2. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this act shall
have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Anesthesiologist." A physician who has been granted an
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unrestricted license to practice medicine by the board or an
unrestricted license to practice osteopathic medicine by the
State Board of Osteopathic Medicine and either:
(1) has successfully completed residency training in
anesthesiology accredited by either the Accreditation Council
for Graduate Medical Education or the American Osteopathic
Association;
(2) is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology
or the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology; or
(3) is credentialed by a licensed health care facility
in this Commonwealth to practice the medical specialty of
anesthesiology.
"Anesthesiologist assistant." An individual who:
(1) Graduated from an anesthesiologist assistant
education program approved by CAAHEP, its predecessor or a
successor agency.
(2) Satisfactorily completed a certification examination
administered by NCCAA or another national anesthesiologist
assistant certifying agency established for such purposes
which has been reviewed and approved by the board and is
currently certified.
(3) Is approved by the board to assist in the practice
of medicine under the supervision of a supervising
anesthesiologist.
* * *
"Assist." The action of an anesthesiologist assistant
personally performing duties and responsibilities delegated to
him by a supervising anesthesiologist under the supervision of
an anesthesiologist.
* * *
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"CAAHEP." The Commission on Accreditation of Allied Heath
Education Programs.
"Certification examination." The initial certifying
examination for an anesthesiologist assistant established for
the purpose of certification and reviewed and approved by the
board.
* * *
"NCCAA." The National Commission on the Certification of
Anesthesiologist Assistants.
* * *
"Supervising anesthesiologist." An anesthesiologist who
provides supervision to and agrees to be responsible for the
medical acts of an anesthesiologist assistant.
"Supervision." The d elegated duties performed under a
supervising anesthesiologist's direction and control:
(1) where the supervising anesthesiologist is
immediately physically available in the same facility,
including, but not limited to, the operating room suite,
intensive care unit, emergency room, obstetric suite,
endoscopy suite, radiology suite, cardiac services suite or
recovery room; and
(2) that may provide assistance and direction throughout
the performance of the anesthesia procedure or service,
regardless of whether or not the supervising anesthesiologist
is present in the room for the entirety of the anesthesia
procedure or service.
* * *
Section 2. The act is amended by adding a section to read:
Section 13.7. Anesthesiologist assistants.
(a) General rule.--An anesthesiologist assistant may a ssist
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a supervising anesthesiologist in the practice of medicine.
Duties which an anesthesiologist may delegate to an
anesthesiologist assistant include, but are not limited to:
(1) Performing preoperative anesthetic evaluations,
except for emergencies which must be approved by the
supervising anesthesiologist prior to the administration of
care.
(2) Performing postoperative anesthetic evaluations
and writing patient progress notes, which must be cosigned by
the supervising anesthesiologist within 24 hours.
(3) Ordering and performing preoperative consultations.
(4) Ordering preoperative medications, including, but
not limited to, controlled substances.
(5) Changing or discontinuing a medical treatment plan
after consultation with the supervising anesthesiologist.
(6) Obtaining informed consent for anesthesia or related
procedures if permissible under section 504 of the act of
March 20, 2002 (P.L.154, No.13), known as the Medical Care
Availability and Reduction of Error (Mcare) Act .
(7) Ordering the perioperative continuation of current
medications which may be administered prior to the
cosignature by the supervising anesthesiologist.
(8) Calibrating anesthesia delivery systems and
obtaining and interpreting information from the systems and
monitors.
(9) Assisting the supervising anesthesiologist with the
implementation of medically accepted monitoring techniques.
(10) Performing basic and advanced airway interventions,
including, but not limited to,
endotrachealintubation, laryngeal mask insertion and other
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advanced airway techniques.
(11) Establishing peripheral intravenous lines.
(12) Establishing arterial lines and central lines.
(13) Performing general anesthesia including induction,
maintenance and emergence.
(14) Performing procedures associated with general
anesthesia, including, but not limited to, gastric
intubation.
(15) Administering vasoactive medications and vasoactive
infusions for the treatment of patient responses to
anesthesia.
(16) Performing epidural, spinal and intravenous
regional anesthesia.
(17) Maintaining and managing established neuraxial and
regional anesthesia.
(18) Performing monitored anesthesia care.
(19) Evaluating and managing patient-controlled
analgesia, epidural catheters and peripheral nerve catheters.
(20) Obtaining venous and arterial blood samples.
(21) Performing, ordering and interpreting appropriate
preoperative, point of care, intraoperative or postoperative
diagnostic tests or procedures.
(22) Obtaining and administering perioperative
anesthesia and related pharmaceutical agents, including
intravenous fluids and blood products.
(23) Participating in management of a patient while in
the preoperative suite and recovery area.
(24) Ordering postoperative sedation, anxiolysis,
analgesia, which may be administered prior to the cosignature
by the supervising anesthesiologist.
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(25) Ordering postoperative oxygen therapy, including
initial ventilator therapy, which may be administered prior
to the cosignature by the supervising anesthesiologist.
(26) Ordering postoperative respiratory therapy and
medicines for the treatment of patient responses to
anesthesia, which may be administered prior to the
cosignature by the supervising anesthesiologist.
(27) Providing assistance to a cardiopulmonary
resuscitation team in response to a life-threatening
situation.
(28) Participating in administrative, research and
clinical teaching activities.
(29) Performing other tasks not prohibited by law under
the supervision of the anesthesiologist that the
anesthesiologist assistant has been trained and is proficient
to perform.
(b) Exception.--This section does not apply to an individual
enrolled in an anesthesiologist assistant program approved by
the board.
(c) Construction.- -Nothing in this section shall be
construed to prevent an anesthesiologist assistant from having
access to and being able to obtain drugs as directed by a
supervising anesthesiologist.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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