Bush, Kerry and CRNA's

sonessrna · Aug 8, 2004

Does anyone know either of these candidates positions on CRNA's or their voting records on CRNA issues?

Check on studentdoctor.net for a recap on physician feelings about this and other debates.

CougRN · Aug 8, 2004

Check out John Kerry's website on this issue. Bush's record so far favors MD's and not CRNA's.

meandragonbrett · Aug 8, 2004

I don't believe that Kerry has specifically stated anything regarding CRNAs, but if you check out his website he has some information about what he wants to do for RNs as well as APRNs. Bush did not have anything on his website the last time I checked.

Kiwi, BSN, RN · Aug 8, 2004

At one point, Kerry mentioned nurse anesthetists on his website. It was in a paragraph about his support of advanced practice registered nurses (and cited some examples). Kerry also wrote the nurse reinvestment act. I'm sure others can confirm this. The page has changed around a bit lately.

Bush mentions physicians more so on his website, and addresses issues such as outrageous insurance premiums.

Here's an article from:

http://www.cnsnews.com/ViewNation.asp?Page=\Politics\archive\200105\POL20010521a.html

Bush Administration Suspends Another Last-Minute Clinton Rule

By Christine Hall

CNSNews.com Staff Writer

May 21, 2001

(CNSNews.com) - The Bush administration has suspended for six months another last-minute regulation issued by the Clinton administration, this one dealing with who is authorized to administer anesthesia to Medicare patients.

The Clinton rule would have allowed nurse anesthetists to administer anesthesia without supervision by a doctor.

A seniors group speculated that the Clinton rule was a "thank you" gesture to the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists for throwing political support behind Clinton-Gore re-election campaigns.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson explained the administration's decision as one that would "ensure that all Medicare beneficiaries receive the safe, high quality anesthesia services they need."

Thompson said the administration will propose a new rule that would allow state governors, in consultation with state boards of medicine and nursing, to request HHS to grant a waiver of the supervision requirement.

The proposal would reportedly only affect 10 states, however, because 40 states have regulations of their own requiring doctor supervision.

The Seniors Coalition, a national senior citizen advocacy group, praised the Bush administration's decision to look at safety issues associated with giving nurses sole responsibility for administering anesthesia.

The coalition delivered more than 30,000 petitions from senior citizens to HHS this week demanding repeal of the Clinton rule.

"The real issue is not who can or can't deliver anesthesia but what happens if there's an adverse outcome," said John Powell, senior vice president for the Seniors Coalition.

"Anesthesia is the most dicey part of any operation. It ought to be required that a doctor that has full medical training is there to diagnose and respond, rather than a nurse who may or may not have graduated from college, but has a couple of years of training in delivering anesthesia," he said.

The American Association of Nurse Anesthetists (AANA) criticized the Bush administration's decision, calling it a blow to the thousands of hospitals and patients who have been "anxiously waiting" for the rule to take effect.

"The AANA has said all along that individual states should be allowed to decide whether to require physician supervision of certified registered nurse anesthetists, based on each state's particular needs," said Larry Hornsby, president of the 28,000 member AANA.

Hornsby cited the need for greater staffing flexibility for hospitals, especially in rural and medically underserved areas.

"The proposed changes by HHS are consistent with this position," Hornsby continued. "However, it should be completely unacceptable to the American public that another delay has occurred thanks to the nurse-bashing tactics of physician anesthesiologists."

The AANA has long been feuding over this issue with the American Society of Anesthesiologists, which praised the Bush administration's decision.

"This is a great day for seniors everywhere," said ASA president Neil Swissman, M.D. "For more than three years, ASA has been arguing that patient safety was at stake, and now someone has listened."

"I cannot imagine that the governors will not adhere to [existing state law] in the case of the most vulnerable class of patients, our senior citizens," Swissman said.

Corrections RN · Aug 8, 2004

Vote Republican and help the country.

meandragonbrett · Aug 9, 2004

Vote Republican and help the country.

This isn't a "Vote Democrat or Republican" thread. The OP was asking a question regarding the provisions of both candidates for CRNAs.

Kiwi, BSN, RN · Aug 9, 2004

Vote Republican and help the country.

I agree w/ Brett. None of us are expressing our political views. We are offering/sharing knowledge on the two candidates' views on nurse anesthetists. Plain and simple. As you know, there are many heated debates here on allnurses about the two candidates.

Please ONLY post President Bush's and Senator Kerry's views on nurse anesthetists. Thanks!

In addition, this is from from Kerry's website:

"John Kerry will ensure fair treatment for Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Nurse Midwives and Nurse Anesthetists. Numerous studies have shown that advanced practice nurses provide safe and high quality care. It is long past time that the federal government properly recognized the crucial role that APRNs play in the American health care system. John Kerry has supported legislation to expand reimbursement opportunities for APRNs. However, he understands that there is much more to do to end the discrimination and barriers to practice that APRNs face. Too often, APRN services are not reimbursed by third party payers. They aren't on panels that set reimbursement policy or assess care. Highly restrictive limitations on APRN scope of practice persist. These barriers deny health care consumers the widest possible choice of providers. As president, John Kerry will fight for specific legislative and regulatory changes to allow APRNs to practice fully. "

athomas91 · Aug 11, 2004

Check out John Kerry's website on this issue. Bush's record so far favors MD's and not CRNA's

from what i have found - Bush is the first President to promote all advanced practice nursing forums - and has backed increased funding for graduate education as well as undergraduate education....

logically - if we have fewer qualified nurses we will have fewer candidates to advance into CRNA practice.....