Committee hears competing testimony on licensure for anesthesiologist assistants

House Bill 23-68 would establish a licensure framework for anesthesiologist assistants (AAs) and place them under the oversight of the Kansas Board of Healing Arts. The Committee on House Health and Human Services heard more than an hour of proponent and opponent testimony on workforce, supervision, training and clinical‑education implications.

Under the bill as explained to the committee, an anesthesiologist assistant would be a licensed professional who provides anesthesia services under the direction and supervision of a supervising or designated anesthesiologist. The bill would require credentialing, education and examination evidence, allow temporary one‑year licensure in some circumstances, and authorize the Board of Healing Arts to discipline licensees under existing disciplinary statutes. The bill would also add several cross‑references in state law (including KSA 22-47-14 for background checks and KSA 65-11-63 for student practice) so that AAs would be included in existing licensing and background-check frameworks.

Proponent arguments: Physicians, current practicing AAs and the Kansas Medical Society told the committee the bill would create a regulated role that…