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Minutes for HB2368 - Committee on Health and Human Services
Short Title
Providing for the licensure of anesthesiologist assistants.
Minutes Content for Mon, Feb 17, 2025
Jenna Moyer provided and overview of HB2368.
Rachelle Colombo, Executive Director, Kansas Medical Society (KMS), provided testimony in support of HB2368 (Attachment 7). KMS supports an integrated, team based approach to health care delivery that includes an array of advance practice providers. Anesthesiologist assistants work under the direct supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist and must meet educational and training requirements equivalent to physician assistants. Such a structure in no way limits the scope of practice of other anesthesia providers. This bill will only grow the care team.
Ms. Colombo responded to questions from the committee.
Spencer Jones, President, Kansas Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants, provided testimony in support of HB2368 (Attachment 8). The bill is supported by by anesthesiologist and health care administrators. Opponents say there is no shortage of anesthesia providers in the state. In the wake of the pandemic, there is a shortage of full time staff CRNAs for many anesthesia groups. This is due to a wave of retirements and relocations. There is a significant number of CRNAs to train CRNA students. This is not a scope of practice issue.
Mr. Jones responded to questions from the committee.
Dr. Matthew Pinegar, Private Citizen, provided testimony in support of HB2368 (Attachment 9). The combination of rigorous science didactics, modeling of adverse scenarios in simulation labs, advance life support training and over 2,000 hours of patient contact over the course of their master's program creates safe, quality, professional anesthesia providers. CAAs and CRNAs have the same scope of practice. Kansas would be well served by allowing for licensure of these important providers.
Dr. Pinegar responded to questions from the committee.
Senator Chuck Hufstetler, Georgia State Senate, provided testimony in support of HB2368 (Attachment 10). Mr. Hufstetler is an anesthesia assistant. AAs do the same job and receive the same pay as a CRNA. In a study by the National Institute of Health, it was noted that there is no statistically significant difference related to adjusted mortality rates of CAAs vs CRNAs. There is no difference in mortality, length of stay or inpatient spending. There is a health care provider shortage. This addresses the issue.
Senator Hufstetler responded to questions from the committee.
Dr. Kathy Perryman, Private Citizen, provided testimony in support of HB2368 (Attachment 11). Dr. Perryman provided her personal story on becoming a AA. A history of the multiple licensure bills over the past seven years was reviewed with the committee. The experience in other states in which AAs work also demonstrates that both nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologist assistants remain important members of the anesthesia care team.
Written only proponent testimony provided by the following:
Ashley Eichelberger, Private Citizen (Attachment 12)
Courtney Znamenacek, Private Citizen (Attachment 13)
Daniel Wikiera, Private citizen (Attachment 14)
Dr. Anne Kancel, Private Citizen (Attachment 15)
Dr. Chris Gipson, Private Citizen (Attachment 16)
Dr. Daren Wilson, Director of Anesthesiology, Liberty Hospital (Attachment 17)
Dr. Kacey Chau, Private Citizen (Attachment 18)
Dr. Neal Campbell, Private Citizen (Attachment 19)
Dr. Omar Nunez, Private Citizen (Attachment 20)
Dr. Rajiv Chhabra, Professor of Medicine, UMKC (Attachment 21)
Dr. Sean Bonanni, Private Citizen (Attachment 22)
Dr. Todd Glenski, President, Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists (Attachment 23)
Henson Sullivan, Private Citizen (Attachment 24)
Jenny Nolan, Private Citizen (Attachment 25)
Landon Streed, Private Citizen (Attachment 26)
Mason Spellmeier, Private Citizen (Attachment 27)
Olivia Woodruff, Private Citizen (Attachment 28)
Rachel Luptak Bayer, Private Citizen (Attachment 29)
Ty Townsend, Private Citizen (Attachment 30)
Tyler Werth, Private Citizen (Attachment 31)
Jeremy Salsbury, Private Citizen, provided testimony on opposition to HB2368 (Attachment 32). Mr. Salsbury provided three reasons to oppose the bill. First, AAs do not improve access to care in Kansas. They cannot cure the serious health care access issues that exist in rural areas. Second, AAs are narrowly trained and cannot practice without a licensed anesthesiologist. CRNAs typically acquire nearly 9,000 hours of clinical patient care experience, while AAs average 2,000-2,700 hours. Third, AAs are an unproven provided with no peer-reviewed studies that prove the safety of AAs.
Mr. Salsbury responded to questions from the committee.
Donna Nyght, Private Citizen, provided testimony in opposition to HB2368 (Attachment 33). A brief history of the KU Nurse Anesthesia program was provided. The increase in student numbers has presented challenges in securing clinical placements. A list of the clinical sites was provided. The KU NA Program provides a well-rounded clinical experiences for Student Registered Nurse Anesthesiologists (SRNAs). It would be devastating to the KU program if AAs are hired at KUH, forcing the KU program to reduce the number of SRNAs scheduled at KUH.
Written only opponent testimony provided by the following:
Susan Hofman, Kansas Advanced Practice Nurse Association (Attachment 34)
Kaitlin Adair, Private Citizen (Attachment 35)
Sonia Slaba, Private Citizen (Attachment 36)
Written only neutral testimony provided by the following:
Susan Giles, Executive Director, Kansas Board of Healing Arts (Attachment 37)
The hearing was closed.
