AFP-PA Praises Gov. Wolf Signature on Nursing Compact and CRNA Title Designation Bills

JUL 1, 2021 BY AFP

HARRISBURG, Pa. – Today, Americans for Prosperity-Pennsylvania (AFP-PA) applauds Gov. Wolf’s decision to sign these two key bills into law will expand access to health care across the Commonwealth. The grassroots group supported these bills that will make temporary waivers and licensure flexibilities proven to be effective during COVID-19 permanent.

AFP-PA State Director Ashley Klingensmith issued the following statement:

“Signing these two reforms into law sends a clear signal that our lawmakers in Harrisburg understand the value nurses bring to benefit patients and the need to empower them even more within their respective fields by broadening their reach. We are optimistic that these reforms will inspire additional consideration for further innovations in telemedicine and expanded scope of practice with the Health Care Innovations act. Our lawmakers must continue to pave the way for the removal of additional barriers to continue to increase accessibility to higher quality and more affordable care for Pennsylvanians as we exit the pandemic.”

Pa. Joins 36 Other States in Nurse Licensure Compact

Pennsylvania is following the lead of 36 other states by joining the Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC), which allows registered nurses and licensed practical nurses to have one multistate license in their primary state of residence and practice in other compact states under that one license

Gov. Tom Wolf enacted Senate Bill 115, now Act 68 of 2021, on June 30. The measure was sponsored by state Sen. Lisa Boscola (D-Lehigh/Northampton).

Once fully implemented, the NLC will reduce bureaucracy by enabling nurses to practice across the country without having to obtain additional licenses. Under the NLC, there is no need to wait for a state disaster declaration or an executive order to address health-care licensing issues as compact nurses are able to cross state lines and assist immediately.

While licensure by endorsement is currently available in every state, it is costly, time-consuming, and inefficient. The NLC streamlines the licensure process so that nurses, and the nursing workforce, can be as mobile as possible, creating better access to care for patients.

The NLC has been operational and successful for more than 18 years and continues to grow each year with the addition of new states.

More than 2 million nurses live in NLC states. In Pennsylvania, this new law benefits 229,000 RNs and 51,000 LPNs.

Implementation of the NLC could take between six months to one year.

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New Law Clarifies ‘Informed Consent’ Related to Anesthesia Care

Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Kurt Knaus; P: 717-724-2866; E: kurt@ceislermedia.com

New Law Clarifies ‘Informed Consent’ Related to Anesthesia Care

Act address unintended consequences of 2017 Supreme Court ruling

HARRISBURG (July 1, 2021) --- Gov. Tom Wolf has enacted a new law that remedies the years-long fallout from a complex ruling by the state’s top court that had the unintended consequence of restricting the administration of anesthesia.

Issues related to “informed consent” were brought about by the state Supreme Court’s interpretation of the Medical Care Availability and Reduction of Error (MCare) Act, under the Shinal v. Toms case, regarding a physician’s ability to delegate the duty to obtain the informed consent of a patient prior to specified procedures.

The court’s interpretation, part of a June 20, 2017, ruling, impacted patient care by ruling that only a physician can obtain informed consent.

The ruling had a profound effect on advanced practice providers like certified registered nurse anesthetists, especially those who work without physician anesthesiologists, because it made the surgeon, who is not an anesthesia expert, responsible for talking to a patient about anesthesia care and obtaining their consent.

Anesthesia teams comprising CRNAs and anesthesiologists also were affected. In many cases, CRNAs would obtain their own consents prior to the ruling. But after the court handed down its decision, anesthesiologists had to pulled off other tasks to perform this duty, affecting workplace flow for patient care.

This new law essentially clarifies that while physicians remain responsible for the overall care of their patients, the task of obtaining a patient’s informed consent may be delegated by a physician to a qualified practitioner, including CRNAs.

“We heard from CRNAs across Pennsylvania over the years how this ruling really affected day-to-day procedures, making their work more challenging and causing confusion among patients during what is already a stressful time,” said Matt McCoy, DNP, CRNA, President of the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists (PANA), which represents more than 3,700 CRNAs and students in the commonwealth.

The measure (S.B. 425), sponsored by state Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia), received unanimous approval in both the Senate and House. With the governor’s signature, the legislation now becomes Act 61 of 2021.

For more information about certified registered nurse anesthetists in Pennsylvania, visit www.PANAforQualityCare.com or follow along on social media via Twitter at @PANACRNA or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PANACRNA.

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