Minutes for HB2295 - Committee on Health and Human Services

Short Title

Providing for the licensure of anesthesiologist assistants.

Minutes Content for Mon, Feb 18, 2019

Dr. Jay Nachtigal gave testimony that provided the timetable of the KDHE credentialing process that needed to be completed before proceeding with this bill. He noted the attempt to establish a compromise between the Kansas Medical Society and the Kansas Association of Nurse Anesthesiologists. The talks were suspended. The Kansas Society of Anesthesiologists and Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant (CAA) representatives filed an application with the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to begin the credentialing process. The nine criteria for for credentialing were met and voted on and approved. With the process complete, legislation is being introduced (Attachment 1).

Dr. Kathy Perryman provided testimony in support of HB2295 as a representative of the Kansas Society of Anesthesiologists. As the Past President of the Missouri Society of Anesthesiologists she was involved in the passage of a bill in the Missouri legislature to license Anesthesiologist Assistants. Her practice is on both the Kansas and Missouri side of the border. A brief description of the educational track needed to become a CAA was given. It was noted that the lack of certification in Kansas limits the flexibility of schedules and may limit exposure to more complex cases if they spend more time in outpatient facilities (Attachment 2).

Dr. Perryman fielded questions from the committee.

Dr. Matt Pinegar provided testimony related to experiences as the medical director at Case Western Reserve University's Anesthesiologist Assistant program. He described the training process that included classroom and clinical training (Attachment 3).

Jeremy Betts provided testimony on behalf of the American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants. An overview of the tasks that are preformed by CAA's was given. He concluded that with the basic medical science education and clinical practice experience, a CAA is proficient in the use of contemporary patient monitoring (Attachment 4).

Ty Townsend provided personal experience related to the need for certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants (Attachment 5).

Gudrun Olafsdottier provided a personal perspective into why HB2295 should be passed (Attachment 6).

Rachelle Colombo provided testimony on behalf of the Kansas Medical Society. The Society supports an integrated, team based approach to health care delivery. The bill would allow anesthesiologist assistants to work under direct supervision of licensed anesthesiologists (Attachment 7).

Dr. Greg George provided testimony with its purpose being to explain the extreme and immediate need for additional mid-level anesthesia providers in the Wichita area (Attachment 8).

Written-only testimony in support for HB2295 was provided by:

Melanie Guthrie (Attachment 9)

Dr. Denise Weiss (Attachment 10)

Dr. Scott Roethle (Attachment 11)

Julie Banderas (Attachment 12)

Dr. Jamey Degner (Attachment 13)

Ashley Eichelberger (Attachment 14)

John Stillings (Attachment 15)

Cindy Stillings (Attachment 16)

Ronald Cole (Attachment 17)

Rachel Bayer (Attachment 18)

Tyler Bollinger (Attachment 19)