With insufficient funds for critical needs in the state, why create a licensure advisory board and licensure process for fewer than 20 people in Texas?
The Texas Medical Board (TMB) already has a backlog of over 2500 applications from badly needed physicians who cannot get licensed in Texas because TMB does not have adequate staff. The problem is so severe that TMB is receiving a supplemental appropriation to begin to address the backlog.
Anesthesiologists Assistants (AAs) do not improve access to anesthesia services because AAs can only work under the supervision of a board certified Anesthesiologist.
Anesthesiologists practice in only 70 Texas counties and one-fourth are NOT board certified.
Once licensure occurs, the next move will be to start an AA school that will drain money away from the existing anesthesiology and nurse anesthetists educational programs.
This legislation increases liability of the supervising Anesthesiologist in all cases and the health care facility if it employs an AA.
This is a pocket book issue. Anesthesiologists can make twice as much supervising 4 providers than they can actually providing care to a patient.
Passage of SB 1314 and HB 3313 WILL effect YOU!
Action Required:
Call, write, e-mail or visit your State Senator
Call, write, e-mail or visit your State Representative
Ask your friends, family and co-workers to call, write, e-mail or visit their legislators, and
Visit your legislator at the Capitol in Austin or in their district office to voice your displeasure on SB 1314 and HB 3313.
Texas must focus on accessible, affordable, high quality health care by Anesthesiologists and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists.
