Committee recommends bill to codify independent practice for certified registered nurse anesthetists

The Senate Health and Public Affairs Committee recommended a do‑pass on Senate Bill 78, which would explicitly authorize certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to practice independently and clarify scope, prescriptive authority and an expedited licensing pathway.

Sponsor Senator Michael Padilla said the bill codifies existing practice that in many rural counties CRNAs already provide the majority of anesthetics. Shannon Allen, president of the New Mexico CRNA Association, and multiple rural hospital representatives said the measure preserves access to operations, obstetrics and emergency procedures in communities that otherwise lack anesthesiologists. The New Mexico Hospital Association and a long list of rural hospital administrators and clinicians provided written and oral support.

Opposition testimony came from a semi‑retired anesthesiologist who argued independent CRNA practice would not lower costs, might reduce access in some contexts, and could draw clinicians away from operating rooms to higher‑pay outpatient clinics. Sponsors and CRNA witnesses said the bill clarifies existing practice, retains facility oversight and peer review, and allows facilities to set local collaboration policies.

After discussion the committee voted to recommend the bill. Supporters said codifying the practice provides certainty for providers, supports recruitment and retention in rural areas, and aligns state law with on‑the‑ground practice that the sponsor said has been in place via executive order for two decades.