Colorado Governor Bill Ritter is planning a policy change that would allow certified registered nurse anesthetists to administer anesthesia without a physician's supervision, a decision that has angered Colorado anesthesiologists, according to a Denver Post report.
Mr. Ritter will decide in the next few weeks whether to opt out of a federal Medicare rule that requires physician supervision of CRNAs. Fifteen states have opted out of the rule since they were granted the option to do so in 2001.
Supporters of Mr. Ritter's plan cite the low number of available anesthesiologists in rural areas. Many anesthesiologists criticize the move, arguing CRNAs are not adequately trained to perform anesthesia unsupervised and the decision may endanger the lives of patients.
Mr. Ritter could decide to let rural hospitals, but not urban hospitals, opt out of the federal rule to address the anesthesiologist shortage in underserved communities.
CMS has not studied patient outcomes in the 15 states that opted out of the federal anesthesia rule. A study published in the August issue of Health Affairs showed patient outcomes have improved in those states, but anesthesiologists claim the research — which was funded by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists — is biased.
Read the Denver Post report on Bill Ritter's plan to opt out of the federal anesthesia rule.
Read more coverage on the recent debate over CRNAs performing anesthesia unsupervised:
-Controversial CRNA Study Discussed in Healthcare Blog of The Hill
-WSJ Health Blog Publishes Follow-Up Report to Coverage of Study of CRNAs as Sole Provider of Anesthesia Services
Mr. Ritter will decide in the next few weeks whether to opt out of a federal Medicare rule that requires physician supervision of CRNAs. Fifteen states have opted out of the rule since they were granted the option to do so in 2001.
Supporters of Mr. Ritter's plan cite the low number of available anesthesiologists in rural areas. Many anesthesiologists criticize the move, arguing CRNAs are not adequately trained to perform anesthesia unsupervised and the decision may endanger the lives of patients.
Mr. Ritter could decide to let rural hospitals, but not urban hospitals, opt out of the federal rule to address the anesthesiologist shortage in underserved communities.
CMS has not studied patient outcomes in the 15 states that opted out of the federal anesthesia rule. A study published in the August issue of Health Affairs showed patient outcomes have improved in those states, but anesthesiologists claim the research — which was funded by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists — is biased.
Read the Denver Post report on Bill Ritter's plan to opt out of the federal anesthesia rule.
Read more coverage on the recent debate over CRNAs performing anesthesia unsupervised:
-Controversial CRNA Study Discussed in Healthcare Blog of The Hill
-WSJ Health Blog Publishes Follow-Up Report to Coverage of Study of CRNAs as Sole Provider of Anesthesia Services