SF4517

Purpose

• Create a formal licensure system for anesthesiologist assistants in Minnesota.
• Place oversight of this profession under the Board of Medical Practice (or its designee) and establish a new regulatory framework (chapter 147G).
• Ensure anesthesiologist assistants practice safely and under physician supervision in hospital or integrated clinical settings.

Key Terms Defined

• Anesthesiologist assistant: a person licensed to assist in practicing medicine, but only under the supervision of a physician.
• Collaborative practice agreement: a written plan that defines the working relationship and the scope of services an anesthesiologist assistant can provide with one or more physicians.
• Supervising physician: a physician who delegates, coordinates, and oversees the anesthesiologist assistant’s work under the agreement.
• Immediately available: a supervising physician must be close enough to reestablish direct contact and address urgent problems.
• Provisional license: a temporary license issued before full licensure, valid for up to two years while exam results are pending.
• Continuing education: required ongoing training hours to maintain certification status.

Main Provisions and What the Bill Seeks to Accomplish

• Licensure and oversight
  • Establishes a new licensure path for anesthesiologist assistants (chapter 147G) overseen by the Board of Medical Practice.
  • Defines who is an anesthesiologist assistant and what “licensed” means.
• Licensure requirements
  • Applicants must complete an approved anesthesiologist assistant program, pass a national certification exam (or equivalent), and meet health/discipline standards.
  • Applicants must disclose any prior discipline and provide all information the board needs.
  • The board can grant licensure after review and may allow remediation if needed.
• Provisional licensure
  • A provisional license can be issued to someone who has taken the required exam but hasn’t received results yet; it lasts up to two years.
• License renewals and continuing education
  • Licenses (except provisional) are valid for one year and must be renewed each year.
  • Licenses generally expire on the last day of the licensee’s birth month.
  • Renewal requires coursework/continuing education and payment of renewal fees.
  • If renewal is missed, the license can be removed from the authorized list, but reinstatement is possible under certain conditions.
• Reinstatement and discipline
  • Reinstatement after revocation usually requires a waiting period (two years) and meeting initial licensure requirements plus showing rehabilitation.
  • If a felony conviction is reversed on appeal, the prior revocation can be vacated and reinstatement can be pursued.
  • The bill aligns disciplinary actions with existing statutes and rules.
• Scope of practice and patient services
  • Anesthesiologist assistants must practice only under a collaborative practice agreement and physician supervision.
  • Scope includes a wide range of anesthesia-related tasks, from planning and preoperative care to airway management, administration of anesthesia, monitoring, regional anesthesia, resuscitation, and postoperative care.
  • Specific duties include developing anesthesia care plans, obtaining histories, administering medications, performing airway procedures (including intubation), placing intravenous lines, monitoring systems, and providing perioperative care.
  • Practice must align with the supervising physician’s directions and federal reimbursement rules.
• Titles, exemptions, and sanctions
  • Protected titles (e.g., “Licensed Anesthesiologist Assistant”) may only be used by licensed individuals.
  • It is unlawful to practice without a license; violations are treated as misdemeanors with potential board discipline.
  • Exemptions exist for certain federal employees, students, and others not presenting themselves as anesthesiologist assistants.
• Advisory council
  • Creates the Anesthesiologist Assistant Advisory Council to advise the board on licensure standards, enforcement, information distribution, and other practice/regulation issues.
  • The council includes anesthesiologist assistants, a public member, and a supervising physician.
• Fees and funding
  • Sets nonrefundable fees for applications, renewals, duplicate licenses, and other services.
  • Revenue from fees goes to a state government special revenue fund.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a brand-new licensure framework (chapter 147G) for anesthesiologist assistants, creating a regulated profession where none existed before in Minnesota.
• Shifts oversight for anesthesiologist assistants to the Board of Medical Practice and creates a dedicated advisory council.
• Introduces concrete licensure, provisional licensure, renewal, continuing education, and reinstatement processes.
• Defines a comprehensive scope of practice for anesthesiologist assistants, including detailed patient services and required supervision standards.
• Creates protections around professional titles and adds disciplinary and enforcement mechanisms.
• Incorporates collaborative practice agreements as a formal requirement for practice.

Relevant Terms - anesthesiologist assistant - collaborative practice agreement - supervising physician - immediately available - licensure - provisional license - renewal - continuing education - Board of Medical Practice - Anesthesiologist Assistant Advisory Council - protected titles - unlicensed practice - discipline - scope of practice - anesthesia care plan - airway management - intubation - regional anesthesia - monitored anesthesia care - perioperative care - accreditation (CAHEP) - national certification (NC CAA) - hospital or integrated clinical setting - fees (application, renewal, etc.)