Senate Bill S1385

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S1385

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the education law, in relation to certification of
certified registered nurse anesthetists

 PURPOSE :

The bill provides for the certification by the education department of
certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNA).

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 amends the education law by establishing criteria for
certification as a certified registered nurse anesthetist, including
application filing, license requirements, education and certification
fees.

This provision prohibits any individual other than certified persons
from using the title "certified registered nurse anesthetist." Those
currently practicing as certified registered nurse anesthetists would
be "grandfathered" in order to include them under this act. This act
does not apply to existing laws, rules, regulations or certification
standards. The Commissioner is authorized to promulgate rules and
regulations to implement the CRNA certification.
              

This section also provides that nothing in this section shall be
construed to define a scope of practice or permit independent practice
for certified registered nurse anesthetists or to alter the scope of
practice of any certified or licensed practitioner or professional.

Section 2 sets forth the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) play an essential role
in providing high quality, cost-effective care. They provide
anesthesia services to all categories of patients, all types of
surgical procedures and in all practice settings.

Protecting the title of CRNA is necessary to maintain safe patient
care and to ensure that only those who are properly educated and
qualified are performing CRNA services. Competencies for CRNA practice
have been nationally validated and recognized. Numerous studies have
demonstrated that CRNA Practice represents the highest level of safe
quality care at the lowest cost to the patient and the system.
Furthermore, with the health care environment growing increasingly
complex due to new technologies and treatment modalities, title,
recognition for CRNAs is essential for the public's protection.

This bill would protect the title "certified registered nurse
anesthetist" and the designation "CRNA" to ensure that only those
properly educated and prepared to be certified registered nurse
anesthetists hold themselves out as such. The state would be able to
identify those nurses who have been properly educated to provide
specialized care and prohibit health care facilities from
inappropriately utilizing unqualified persons in the CRNA role.
Specifically, enacting this legislation will better enable the State
Education Department to investigate claims of unlicensed practice and
thus help the Department to fully protect the public from professional
misconduct in this specialty area.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :


2015-16: S.7166-A/A.140-A Referred to Higher Education/Ordered to
Third Reading
2013-14: S.3277-B/A.4228-B Referred to Higher Education (both houses)
2012: S.5356-D/A.8392-C Passed both houses, Vetoed Memo. 165
2011: S.5356-D/A.8392-C Referred to Higher Education (both houses)

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect 180 days after it shall have become law,
except that subdivision 2 of section 6912 of the Education Law, as
added by section one of this act shall take effect three years after
this act shall have become a law.