On June 11, the Ohio House Health Committee held hearings on House Bill (HB) 224, a bill that allows scope expansions for Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs). The Ohio Academy of Family Physicians has joined forces with other physician organizations in opposing HB 224.
The OAFP co-signed a June 11th letter to House Health Committee members expressing concerns.
The letter states, “CRNA-supported scope expansion bills, in the past, have included broad authority for CRNAs to order undefined drugs, tests, treatments, and fluids for patients, including pain medications. The bills have not required CRNAs to be with the patient or even present in the facility when ordering drugs. This highlights a few of the problems in their bills but is no means inclusive of all of the issues raised in regards to patient care.”
The letter goes on to state, “Our organizations want to be part of any solution regarding issues with Ohio’s current anesthesia care team model. Our primary interest is reaching a solution that is safe for the patient and ensures the continuation of the care team model, which is the best model for safe patient care. To that end, we have repeatedly asked what is the problem with Ohio’s current anesthesia model of care and how are patients jeopardized under this model? As we have yet to be provided with any evidence of how patients are adversely impacted by Ohio’s current anesthesia care team model, we are concerned that legislation intended to expand CRNA scope of practice could do so at the expense of patient care.”
The letter concludes, “We understand the desire of CRNAs to expand their scope of practice, but patient care cannot be compromised in doing so.”