Hopefully This Passes

[NicholasPavona]

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Pending law could allow anesthesiologist assistants to work in Va., bolster health care workforce - NewsBreak

Ricky Miller would like to come home to Virginia. He’s been in Indiana practicing as a Certified Anesthesiologist Assistant and finished his schooling to d

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[nimbus]

Is there an actual shortage in Virginia or is it something else? We had a “shortage” but it magically disappeared when we got a competitive new contract. Not sure if inviting in yet another group of anesthesia providers is the best solution for anesthesiologists.

 

[DG51]

Is there an actual shortage in Virginia or is it something else? We had a “shortage” but it magically disappeared when we got a competitive new contract. Not sure if inviting in yet another group of anesthesia providers is the best solution for anesthesiologists.

100% agree. I understand the appeal of AAs compared to CRNAs, but I have a hard time believing that introducing another group of midlevels is best for patients or anesthesiologists...just look at what happened to the PA profession, originally branded as "physician extenders" now advocating for physician replacement.

 

[deleted1130227]

100% agree. I understand the appeal of AAs compared to CRNAs, but I have a hard time believing that introducing another group of midlevels is best for patients or anesthesiologists...just look at what happened to the PA profession, originally branded as "physician extenders" now advocating for physician replacement.

Anesthesiologists sit on the board of the national AA association and have enough of seats per the bylaws to block this.

 

[CopaceticOne]

Anesthesiologists sit on the board of the national AA association and have enough of seats per the bylaws to block this.

Until they don’t…

 

[Howard888]

There aren’t enough AAs. This won’t matter. This passes and 3 new AA schools? Well AAs get paid the same as CRNAs. No different

 

[deleted1130227]

Until they don’t…

Haven't seen the bylaws, but as explained to me the bylaws require a certain number of anesthesiologist seats. They cannot be changed unless some anesthesiologist(s) on the board would vote to do so.

 

[linkin06]

Anesthesiologists sit on the board of the national AA association and have enough of seats per the bylaws to block this.

Anesthesiologists also run ASA and look what they’ve done. I am with X-files mentality — trust no one

 

[TheLoneWolf]

I think it is naive to believe this is anything but flooding the market with midlevels. Sure, more pleasant midlevels than militant CRNAs but they will surely ask for an expanded scope of practice within a few years citing patient care and physician shortages. It's just a replay of the CRNA lobby.

 

[GravelRider]

The sentiment that AAs are the white knight saviors of our profession is bizarre to me.

 

[Gern Blansten]

The sentiment that AAs are the white knight saviors of our profession is bizarre to me.

...because they're not all white, right?

 

[GravelRider]

...because they're not all white, right?

I’ve never met an AA in real life, so I can only assume they are imaginary.

 

[AppTrail]

anyone else see this AA student go scorched earth and lay waste to Mike MacKinnon?



this may be one of the greatest call-outs of all time

 

[jwk]

I think it is naive to believe this is anything but flooding the market with midlevels. Sure, more pleasant midlevels than militant CRNAs but they will surely ask for an expanded scope of practice within a few years citing patient care and physician shortages. It's just a replay of the CRNA lobby.

Well, we're not exactly flooding the market. We'll graduate around 4-500 AA students this year. Far fewer than new anesthesiologists and CRNAs. Most have multiple job offers from which to choose. But after 55 years, there hasn't been any attempt or even suggestion for independent practice for CAAs. The medical direction concepts for CAAs are codified in both state and federal law.

 

[jwk]

Anesthesiologists sit on the board of the national AA association and have enough of seats per the bylaws to block this.

Not exactly.

There is an ASA representative on the AAAA board of directors. They represent CAAs just like the ASA represents physicians. There are a number of CAAs serving on ASA committees as well as the ASA-PAC board.

The ARC-AA, the accreditation group for CAAs, has an equal number of CAAs and anesthesiologists on their board. That group is educational program accreditation oriented only.

The NCCAA, the certification group for CAAs, has a couple docs on their board. They only deal with certification issues.

Medical direction or supervision of CAAs is covered under state law and CMS regulations. Unlike CRNAs, each state that licenses CAAs has a maximum supervision ratio of 1:4. It's up to each practice/hospital how they want to manage their CAAs and CRNAs, but for medical direction it can't be higher than 1:4. CAAs only function under medical direction, so if the ratio is 1:5 or higher, that practice is using medical supervision billing or QZ which is not possible with CAAs.

No board or organization of CAAs (or the ASA) has the power or authority or ability to change state or federal law with regards to CAA practice or medical direction laws or regulations. And we don't want to - commitment to the Anesthesia Care Team concept is fundamental to the profession. We believe it's the safest mode of practice. It doesn't mean we're a less-qualified provider than a CRNA.

 

[deleted1130227]

Not exactly.

There is an ASA representative on the AAAA board of directors. They represent CAAs just like the ASA represents physicians. There are a number of CAAs serving on ASA committees as well as the ASA-PAC board.

The ARC-AA, the accreditation group for CAAs, has an equal number of CAAs and anesthesiologists on their board. That group is educational program accreditation oriented only.

The NCCAA, the certification group for CAAs, has a couple docs on their board. They only deal with certification issues.

Medical direction or supervision of CAAs is covered under state law and CMS regulations. Unlike CRNAs, each state that licenses CAAs has a maximum supervision ratio of 1:4. It's up to each practice/hospital how they want to manage their CAAs and CRNAs, but for medical direction it can't be higher than 1:4. CAAs only function under medical direction, so if the ratio is 1:5 or higher, that practice is using medical supervision billing or QZ which is not possible with CAAs.

No board or organization of CAAs (or the ASA) has the power or authority or ability to change state or federal law with regards to CAA practice or medical direction laws or regulations. And we don't want to - commitment to the Anesthesia Care Team concept is fundamental to the profession. We believe it's the safest mode of practice. It doesn't mean we're a less-qualified provider than a CRNA.

Thank you for educating me. Looks like I was given inaccurate info.