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Senate adopts conference report on health-care supervision language; senators say CRNA practice not reduced
Summary
The Senate approved the conference committee report on House Bill 979, which included added 'medical supervision' language and was presented as preserving current CRNA practice and the 4-to-1 supervision framework where applicable.
The Tennessee Senate adopted the conference committee report on House Bill 979 after conferees said the final language preserved existing supervisory arrangements for anesthesiology staff and would not change the practice authority of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).
Senator Hale moved to accept the conference committee report and told the chamber the report "was a unanimous vote by the conference committee" to adopt Senate Amendment No. 2 and to reconcile supervision language. Chairman Bailey, who worked on the legislation, told Senator Sandra Hensley on the floor that the conference language added "medical supervision" to the House version but that "it should not put the medical direction of the CRNAs under an anesthesiologist on the 1 to 4 model if a hospital chooses to hire an anesthesiologist."
Hensley asked for clarification whether CRNAs would be affected in hospitals in counties with populations under 105,000; Bailey said the intent and testimony in committee were that the change "does not affect CRNAs practicing as they currently have the autonomy to be able to practice inside of a hospital, under the supervision model." Senator Bailey reiterated on the floor that CRNAs would remain "under the direct supervision of the attending surgeon or physician, not under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist, just the same as they practice today."
The clerk announced the vote as "Ayes, 31. No nays." The presiding officer declared the conference committee report passed and made it the action of the Senate. The transcript records the discussion as clarification of supervision language and does not include statutory citations beyond the references to Medicare payment conditions and supervision language in the bill's text as described on the floor.
Legislative leaders presented the measure as preserving current practice patterns and as a negotiated compromise reached in conference committee.
