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MoANA's website has a members-only area accessible only by MoANA members. Contact Don Beissel for verification of your membership and to obtain your username and password.
AANA News:
States opting out of requirement for physician supervision:
Alaska Opts Out
From Mitchell H. Tobin, JD
Director of State Government Affairs
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
Posted October 29, 2003
I am pleased to inform you that Alaska has opted out
of the federal physician supervision requirement for CRNAs, as permitted
in the November 13, 2001, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
(CMS) rule. The AANA applauds the
Alaska Governor's decision, and thanks the Alaska Association of Nurse Anesthetists
for its efforts. Alaska is the tenth state to opt out of the federal supervision
requirement. Iowa, Nebraska, Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico,
Kansas, North Dakota, and Washington state opted out previously.
Alaska Governor Frank H. Murkowski's opt-out letter was dated September 17, 2003. The
letter, however, was postmarked from Alaska on October 10, 2003, and not received
at CMS headquarters until today (October 28). The opt-out is effective
upon receipt at CMS and is, therefore, effective immediately.
Governor Murkowski's opt-out letter stated that: "Pursuant to the final
rule published in the November 13, 2001, Federal Register, Volume 66, Number
219, I am requesting an exemption for the state of Alaska from the regulation
requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgical care facilities to have physicians
supervise Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) in order to receive
federal Medicare reimbursement for anesthesiology services...This exemption is
consistent with Alaska law. It has been the public policy of the State
of Alaska to permit advanced registered Nurse Practitioners including CRNAs to
practice independently of physician supervision. As such, under Alaska
law, CRNAs are authorized to administer anesthesia without physician supervision. In
addition, based on the input I have received from medical staff and administrators
of small rural hospitals in Alaska, I believe not exercising this exemption may
severely limit the ability of rural hospitals to treat emergencies and provide
other services requiring anesthesia care to Medicare patients. Medicare
patients will continue to receive the high quality care required under state
licensing laws. After review and consultation with Alaska citizens, practicing
health professionals, and hospital administrators, I am confident that the exemption
from this federal Medicare regulation will provide significant long-term benefits
to all Alaskans."
The AANA's Public Relations Department will post information regarding the opt-out
on the AANA Web site ( www.aana.com ) as soon as possible.
Congratulations again to Alaska.
Mitch
(Mitchell H. Tobin, JD
Director of State Government Affairs
American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
222 S. Prospect Ave.
Park Ridge, IL 60068-4001
Phone: (847) 692-7050, ext. 3031
Fax: (847) 692-6968
E-mail: mtobin@aana.com
AANA Web site: www.aana.com )
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