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The Pennsylvania State Board of Nursing recently published in the Pennsylvania Bulletin its proposed rulemaking to recognize and license “certified registered nurse anesthetists” as intended under Act 60 of 2021. It’s an exciting moment – the culmination of years of hard work by so many!


The rulemaking solidifies the scope of practice for these highly trained, advanced professionals to administer anesthesia in cooperation with and under the overall direction of licensed physicians, podiatrists, and dentists, while setting licensing fees and certification standards. It also updates provisions relating to licensure by endorsement and mandatory child abuse education and training, and updates reactivation fees provisions for clinical nurse specialists.


The rulemaking includes a public comment period that runs through July 28, 2025.

 

CLICK HERE to read the entire proposed rulemaking, and PANA will continue to share updates with members.

 

Budgets are about more than just numbers. They’re also about policy priorities.


On Feb. 4, Gov. Josh Shapiro unveiled his proposed spending plan for the 2025-26 fiscal year. In a 91-minute speech before a joint session of the Pennsylvania General Assembly in Harrisburg, the governor unveiled his $51 billion blueprint, an increase of approximately 8.5% over the current year.


Beyond the myriad line items, the governor also outlined several initiatives where the legislature and administration could work together to strengthen the state’s health-care network, no matter where residents live.


Among his objectives is granting full practice authority to nurse practitioners. This would allow NPs to evaluate patients; diagnose, order and interpret diagnostic tests; and initiate and manage treatments — including prescribing medications — under the exclusive licensure authority of the state board of nursing.


The effort is not too dissimilar from efforts by the Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists to advance scope of practice legislation, which would allow certified registered nurse anesthetists to practice to the fullest extent of their education and training, thus increasing access to high-quality anesthesia care.


According to the administration, there simply aren’t enough primary care physicians to meet the needs of patients in rural, suburban, and urban communities across the commonwealth. Many residents already have experienced the effects via long wait times for appointments, difficulties finding a mental health provider accepting new patients, and having to travel long distances to neighboring counties for prenatal and maternal care.


This is especially true in rural areas, where full practice authority could really help, Shapiro said in his speech. “In rural counties, there is one primary care physician for every 522 residents,” he said.


Full practice authority for NPs has been successfully enacted in 27 other states.

Learn more about the issue HERE.


 

Published: Jan. 12, 2025, 10:00 a.m. by PennLive.com


Patients undergoing surgery or procedures requiring anesthesia are safe when cared for by a physician anesthesiologist, a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA), or both. The perceived shortage of anesthesia providers (“Pennsylvania doctors are sounding the alarm over health insurers putting profits above patient care,” Jan. 3) relates to outdated and restrictive laws that prevent CRNAs from practicing to their fullest scope.


Certified registered nurse anesthetists are the hands-on providers of anesthesia care, practicing in every setting where anesthesia is administered. In fact, nurse anesthetists are usually the last person a patient sees before a surgical procedure begins, and the first they see when they awake. They are with their patients for every breath during the procedure.


Because of their training and experience – the average nurse anesthetist completes an average of 9,369 clinical hours of training prior to becoming a CRNA – numerous medical studies show there is no statistical difference in patient outcomes when a nurse anesthetist provides treatment compared to a physician anesthesiologist, even for rare and difficult procedures.


Physician anesthesiologists’ concerns about safety are undermined by attempts to push regulations that would allow a new category of unlicensed and unproven anesthesia providers, posing serious liability concerns for health-care facilities, driving up health-care costs, and doing absolutely nothing to increase access to anesthesia care in rural and underserved areas, where CRNAs are the primary providers of anesthesia care, often practicing independently.


As health-care demands grow, empowering CRNAs to practice to the fullest extent of their education and training is key to containing costs while maintaining the highest level of care.


Jodie Szlachta, Ph.D., CRNA, President-elect, Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists



 

Copyright © 2025 Pennsylvania Association of Nurse Anesthetists

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