Senate Public Health panel rejects standalone anesthesiologist assistant bill after extended testimony from nurse anesthetists and physicians

The Public Health and Welfare Committee voted to reject Senate Bill 2669, a measure to create a standalone category for anesthesiologist assistants, after members voted "no" on a motion that the bill be reported as "title sufficient, do pass." The motion to take the bill from the table passed earlier in the same hearing.

Committee members heard extended testimony from certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) and at least one anesthesiologist during the discussion. Karen Thornhill, representing MANA, the Mississippi Association of Nurse Anesthetists, asked the committee to consider both the stand‑alone anesthesiologist assistant (AA) bill before them and a separate bill (Senate Bill 2673) that would grant full practice authority to CRNAs.

Thornhill said MANA had adopted a neutral position on the stand‑alone AA bill but urged lawmakers to consider CRNAs’ own legislation granting full practice authority. "Our request is not an expansion of scope. It's simply the ability to practice fully within our scope of practice as defined by the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiologists," she said. Sandy Weathers, identified as the current president of MANA, and other CRNA representatives joined Thornhill at the podium to answer committee questions.

CRNA witnesses told the committee they provide a majority of anesthesia care in Mississippi and stressed workforce and access concerns. "We serve over 80% of the anesthetics in Mississippi," Thornhill said. She described efforts to expand training capacity in the state, including asking the accrediting council to increase class size at the University of Southern Mississippi and noting a new CRNA program entering accreditation with plans to enroll students the following year.

Thornhill also challenged testimony from physician opponents that used the term "midlevel" to describe nonphysician anesthesia providers, saying the term "does not appear in any Mississippi statute, rule, or regulation" and that its use can mislead the public about the level of care CRNAs provide.

Dr. Gary Bridal, an anesthesiologist who introduced himself to the committee as an anesthesiologist from Auburn, Alabama and as the president of the Alabama State Society of Anesthesiology, offered remarks in support of anesthesiologist assistants as a workforce solution. Bridal described workforce pressures where he practices and said AAs and CRNAs can each play roles in addressing shortages. "If you came in my operating room today, you would see no difference in the care provided between a CRNA and an AA," Bridal said, while also noting that practitioners are assigned cases based on experience and specialty training.

After questions and limited debate, the committee voted on the motion that SB 2669 be reported ‘‘title sufficient, do pass.’’ The chair announced, "It appears the noes have it," and the motion failed.

Votes and formal actions on SB 2669 are recorded below; committee members did not record individual yea/nay tallies for the final disposition on the transcript.

Ending: The committee moved on to other bills after the vote.