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.”

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.

###

CRNA Professional Designation Bill Signed into Law

Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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

HARRISBURG (June 30, 2021) --- If you are a practicing certified registered nurse anesthetist in Pennsylvania --- and there are more than 3,000 of these health-care professionals in the commonwealth --- then you are finally recognized as a “CRNA.”

Gov. Tom Wolf today signed into law Act 60, which grants formal title recognition to the state’s certified registered nurse anesthetists.

Until this moment, Pennsylvania had been one of just two states that failed to recognize “certified registered nurse anesthetist” in some form. With no definition for nurse anesthetists under the state’s Professional Nursing Law, CRNAs were recognized only as registered nurses.

That all changed with the governor’s signature.

The enactment also marks the end of a lengthy legislative push by CRNAs who have fought for more than a decade to secure professional recognition of their advanced education, specialized training, and clinical skills.

“This is a monumental victory,” 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.

“Every day we go into work from this point forward will be a new day for CRNAs in Pennsylvania,” he said. “I am so proud of the job our CRNAs do and so impressed by the time they put in outside of work to advocate for this change in law. This is a shared victory among our entire profession.”

Both the House and Senate passed identical companion measures --- House Bill 931 sponsored by Rep. Tarah Toohil (R-Luzerne) and Senate Bill 416 sponsored by Sen. John Gordner (R-Columbia) --- within days of each other in early June.

Gordner has had previous measures pass the Senate only to stall in the House --- until this year. His legislation finally made it through both chambers and to the governor’s desk.

“We could not be more grateful to the persistence of Senator Gordner and for the support both Senator Gordner and Representative Toohil have shown us over the years,” McCoy said.

Besides title recognition, the measure also expands the providers that CRNAs are permitted to work with to include podiatrists, and it clarifies regulatory language as it pertains to physician involvement with anesthesia services, formalizing the status quo. The measure also includes cooperation language to define the relationship CRNAs have with their physician colleagues.

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.

###