LRB-3804/1
RPN:jld:rs
2011 - 2012 LEGISLATURE
January 18, 2012 - Introduced by Senators Darling, Shilling, Kedzie and Taylor,
cosponsored by Representatives
Severson, Van Roy, Vos, Spanbauer,
Billings, Pasch and
Zepnick. Referred to Committee on Health.
SB383,1,6
1An Act to renumber 448.015 (1);
to amend 448.02 (1), 448.03 (2) (c), 448.03 (2)
2(e), 448.03 (2) (k), 448.05 (1) (d) and 448.05 (6) (a); and
to create 15.407 (7),
3448.015 (1b), 448.015 (1c), 448.03 (1) (d), 448.03 (3) (g), 448.03 (7), 448.04 (1) (g),
4448.05 (5w), 448.05 (6) (ar), 448.13 (3), 448.22 and 448.23 of the statutes;
5relating to: licensing anesthesiologist assistants and creating the Council on
6Anesthesiologist Assistants and granting rule-making authority.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill creates licensure requirements and practice standards for
anesthesiologist assistants.
The bill prohibits a person from practicing as an anesthesiologist assistant or
representing or implying that the person is an anesthesiologist assistant unless the
person holds a license to practice as an anesthesiologist assistant granted by the
Medical Examining Board (board). The bill requires the board to issue a license to
a person who has: 1) obtained a bachelor's degree; 2) completed an accredited
anesthesiologist assistant program; and 3) passed a certifying examination. The
board may also issue a license to a person who is licensed as an anesthesiologist
assistant in another state, if that state authorizes a licensed anesthesiologist
assistant to practice in the same manner and to the same extent as this state.
Under the bill, an anesthesiologist assistant may assist an anesthesiologist in
the delivery of medical care only under the supervision of an anesthesiologist who
is immediately available and able to intervene if needed. The scope of an
anesthesiologist assistant's practice is limited to assisting only the supervising
anesthesiologist and performing only certain medical care tasks assigned by the
supervising anesthesiologist. The medical care tasks are specified in the bill and
include the following: 1) developing and implementing an anesthesia care plan; 2)
implementing monitoring techniques; 3) pretesting and calibrating anesthesia
delivery systems; 4) administering vasoactive drugs and starting and adjusting
vasoactive infusions; 5) administering intermittent anesthetic, adjuvant, and
accessory drugs; 6) implementing spinal, epidural, and regional anesthetic
procedures; and 7) administering blood, blood products, and supportive fluids.
The bill requires an anesthesiologist assistant to be employed by one of certain
health care providers specified in the bill and to enter into a supervision agreement
with an anesthesiologist who represents the anesthesiologist assistant's employer.
The supervision agreement must identify the anesthesiologist assistant's
supervising anesthesiologist and define the scope of the anesthesiologist assistant's
practice, and may limit the anesthesiologist assistant's practice to less than the full
scope of anesthesiologist assistant practice authorized by the bill.
The bill authorizes a student anesthesiologist assistant to perform only medical
care tasks assigned by an anesthesiologist, who may delegate the supervision of a
student to a qualified anesthesiology provider. The bill also creates a five-member
Council on Anesthesiologist Assistants to advise and make recommendations to the
board.
For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as
an appendix to this bill.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
SB383, s. 1
1Section
1. 15.407 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
SB383,3,22
15.407
(7) Council on anesthesiologist assistants; duties. There is created
3a council on anesthesiologist assistants in the department of safety and professional
4services and serving the medical examining board in an advisory capacity. The
5council's membership shall consist of the following members, who shall be selected
6from a list of recommended appointees submitted by the president of the Wisconsin
7Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc., after the president of the Wisconsin Society of
8Anesthesiologists, Inc., has considered the recommendation of the Wisconsin
1Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants for the appointee under par. (b), and who
2shall be appointed by the medical examining board for 3-year terms:
SB383,3,33
(a) One member of the medical examining board.
SB383,3,44
(b) One anesthesiologist assistant licensed under s. 448.04 (1) (g).
SB383,3,55
(c) Two anesthesiologists.
SB383,3,66
(d) One lay member.
SB383, s. 2
7Section
2. 448.015 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 448.015 (1d).
SB383, s. 3
8Section
3. 448.015 (1b) of the statutes is created to read:
SB383,3,129
448.015
(1b) "Anesthesiologist" means a physician who has completed a
10residency in anesthesiology approved by the American Board of Anesthesiology or
11the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology, holds an unrestricted license,
12and is actively engaged in clinical practice.
SB383, s. 4
13Section
4. 448.015 (1c) of the statutes is created to read:
SB383,3,1614
448.015
(1c) "Anesthesiologist assistant" means an individual licensed by the
15board to assist an anesthesiologist in the delivery of certain medical care with
16anesthesiologist supervision.
SB383, s. 5
17Section
5. 448.02 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB383,3,2018
448.02
(1) License. The board may grant licenses, including various classes
19of temporary licenses, to practice medicine and surgery, to practice perfusion,
to
20practice as an anesthesiologist assistant, and to practice as a physician assistant.
SB383, s. 6
21Section
6. 448.03 (1) (d) of the statutes is created to read:
SB383,3,2322
448.03
(1) (d) No person may practice as an anesthesiologist assistant unless
23he or she is licensed by the board as an anesthesiologist assistant.
SB383, s. 7
24Section
7. 448.03 (2) (c) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB383,4,4
1448.03
(2) (c) The activities of a medical student, respiratory care student,
2perfusion student,
anesthesiologist assistant student, or physician assistant student
3required for such student's education and training, or the activities of a medical
4school graduate required for training as required in s. 448.05 (2).
SB383, s. 8
5Section
8. 448.03 (2) (e) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB383,4,96
448.03
(2) (e) Any person other than a physician assistant
or an
7anesthesiologist assistant who is providing patient services as directed, supervised
8and inspected by a physician who has the power to direct, decide and oversee the
9implementation of the patient services rendered.
SB383, s. 9
10Section
9. 448.03 (2) (k) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB383,4,1211
448.03
(2) (k) Any persons, other than physician assistants
, anesthesiologist
12assistants, or perfusionists, who assist physicians.
SB383, s. 10
13Section
10. 448.03 (3) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
SB383,4,2014
448.03
(3) (g) No person may designate himself or herself as an
15"anesthesiologist assistant" or use or assume the title "anesthesiologist assistant" or
16append to the person's name the words or letters "anesthesiologist assistant" or
17"A.A." or any other titles, letters, or designation that represents or may tend to
18represent the person as an anesthesiologist assistant unless he or she is licensed as
19an anesthesiologist assistant by the board. An anesthesiologist assistant shall be
20clearly identified as an anesthesiologist assistant.
SB383, s. 11
21Section
11. 448.03 (7) of the statutes is created to read:
SB383,4,2522
448.03
(7) Supervision of anesthesiologist assistants. An anesthesiologist
23may not supervise more than the number of anesthesiologist assistants permitted
24by reimbursement standards for Part A or Part B of the federal Medicare program
25under Title XVIII of the federal Social Security Act,
42 USC 1395 to
1395hhh.
SB383, s. 12
1Section
12. 448.04 (1) (g) of the statutes is created to read:
SB383,5,142
448.04
(1) (g)
Anesthesiologist assistant license. The board shall license as an
3anesthesiologist assistant an individual who meets the requirements for licensure
4under s. 448.05 (5w). The board may, by rule, provide for a temporary license to
5practice as an anesthesiologist assistant. The board may issue a temporary license
6to a person who meets the requirements under s. 448.05 (5w) and who is eligible to
7take, but has not passed, the examination under s. 448.05 (6). A temporary license
8expires on the date on which the board grants or denies an applicant permanent
9licensure or on the date of the next regularly scheduled examination required under
10s. 448.05 (6) if the applicant is required to take, but has failed to apply for, the
11examination. An applicant who continues to meet the requirements for a temporary
12license may request that the board renew the temporary license, but an
13anesthesiologist assistant may not practice under a temporary license for a period
14of more than 18 months.
SB383, s. 13
15Section
13. 448.05 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:
SB383,5,1816
448.05
(1) (d) Be found qualified by three-fourths of the members of the board,
17except that an applicant for a temporary license under s. 448.04 (1) (b) 1. and 3.
and, 18(e)
, and (g) must be found qualified by 2 members of the board.
SB383, s. 14
19Section
14. 448.05 (5w) of the statutes is created to read:
SB383,5,2220
448.05
(5w) Anesthesiologist assistant license. An applicant for a license
21to practice as an anesthesiologist assistant shall submit evidence satisfactory to
22board that the applicant has done all of the following:
SB383,5,2323
(a) Obtained a bachelor's degree.
SB383,6,3
1(b) Satisfactorily completed an anesthesiologist assistant program that is
2accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education
3Programs, or by a predecessor or successor entity.
SB383,6,64
(c) Passed the certifying examination administered by, and obtained active
5certification from, the National Commission on Certification of Anesthesiologist
6Assistants or a successor entity.