Support needed to defeat PA HB823 restricting CRNA practice

[NRSKarenRN, BSN, RN]

Immediate Action Needed--House Bill 823 Committee Vote Scheduled

House Bill 823 was introduced by Representative Civera on March 8, 2001. The overall intent of this bill is to amend the Medical Practice Act and require that certified registered nurse anesthetists in the state of Pennsylvania be supervised by a

physician who is physically present in the health care facility when the anesthesia is administered. The term "supervision" in the definition of the bill means medical direction by the qualified physician, and provides for the State Board of Medicine to

promulgate regulations which define medical practice.

This bill, if enacted, would negatively impact small, rural and underserved areas. The bill would also put responsibility for promulgating regulations defining medical practice under the State Board of Medicine. After struggling 20 plus years to have the

joint boards (Nursing and Medicine) promulgate regs enabling CRNPs to prescribe, there is reason to believe this scenario could be repeated.

PSNA believes that CRNAs are competent to administer anesthesia without supervision and this bill is a solution in search of a problem. We strongly oppose another group of advanced practice nurses being jointly regulated by the Board of Nursing and the

Board of Medicine.

This bill was referred the the House Appropriations Committee and is scheduled to be voted on by the Committee early this week. Please contact the members of the House Appropriations Committee and urge them to NOT support this legislation. If your time

is limited, at the least contact the the chairs of the committee.

The mailing address for all members and contact information for each chair of the committee have been provided.

For additional contact information for Democratic committee members... http://listcaster.vertex.net/c.asp?ui=351835&k=897_2_PHSN&l=committeeindex.htm#appropriations

For additional contact information for Republican committee members... http://listcaster.vertex.net/c.asp?ui=351835&k=897_2_PHSG&l=memb/default.htm

Democratic

Room 512-E Main Capitol

Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020

EVANS, DWIGHT Chair

Telephone: [phone]

[email protected]

LAGROTTA, FRANK

Subcommittee Chairman on Capital Budget

MUNDY, PHYLLIS

Subcommittee Chairman on Education

JOSEPHS, BABETTE

Subcommittee Chairman on Health and Human Services

MYERS, JOHN

Secretary

Frankel, Dan

Manderino, Kathy

Mayernik, David J.

Robinson, William

Staback, Edward

Stetler, Stephen

Trich, Leo

Republican

Room 245 Main Capitol

Harrisburg, PA 17120-2020

BARLEY, JOHN Chair

Telephone: [phone]

Fax: [phone]

[email protected]

LYNCH, JAMES

Subcommittee Chairman on Capital Budget

FLEAGLE, PAT

Subcommittee Chairman on Education

TAYLOR, JOHN

Subcommittee Chairman on Health and Human Services

DIGIROLAMO, GENE

Secretary

Adolph, William

Baker, Matthew

Barrar, Stephen

Cohen, Lita

Dally, Craig

Forcier, Theresa

Lawless, John

Nickol, Steven

Orie, Jane

Rohrer, Sam

Saylor, Stanley

Schroder, Curt

Stern, Jerry

Strittmatter, Jere

Zug, Peter