Senate committee advances substitute for SB67 aligning CRNA prescribing language with APRN statute

At a meeting of the Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare, members voted to adopt an amendment and advance a Senate substitute for Senate Bill 67 that inserts language mirroring the advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) prescribing statute into the provisions for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).

The amendment copies language the committee identified as coming from the APRN statute (identified in committee discussion as KSA 65-11-30 D(1)–(3)) and adds an extra sentence clarifying that it relates to administering anesthetic agents. The committee approved the amendment by voice vote and then voted to advance a Senate substitute for SB67 out of committee favorably.

Why it matters: The change would make the statutory prescribing provisions for CRNAs consistent with the language the legislature already uses for APRNs, and it includes an explicit reference to anesthetic agents. Supporters said the amendment preserves existing ordering requirements while creating parity in the statutory text; a committee member voiced concern about the public-health implications of increasing the number of clinicians who may prescribe opioids.

Jenna (staff member) told the committee the language was copied from the APRN statute so the CRNA provision would “be the same as in just this 65 11 30,” and that the amendment adds the sentence related to administering anesthetic agents to provide “additional clarity as to what medications can be prescribed.”

Rochelle Colombo, Kansas Medical Society, testified that KMS “do[es] believe that it reflects what we requested in our testimony.” Colombo said KMS does not support nonphysicians broadly prescribing but that the amendment “is consistent across the practices between APRNs and CRNAs and doesn't represent a broader, expansion of the scope of practice except for to prescribing.” She added that the amendment “does preserve the physician or dentist order.”

Senator Clifford spoke in opposition and said he would vote no on the substitute bill while still wanting it to reach the Senate floor. Clifford warned that the change “does increase the number of opioid prescribers in the State,” and said as a cautionary note that anesthetists “do a lot of pain work, pain management injections in the back and they are around patients who are susceptible to addictive behavior.”

Procedural actions recorded in the transcript: a motion to adopt the amendment was made and seconded by Senator Rose; the amendment passed by voice vote. A motion to pass the Senate substitute for SB67 favorably was made and seconded by Senator Murphy; the committee voted in favor by voice vote and the bill was reported out of committee. The transcript records no roll-call tallies.

The committee adjourned following the vote to advance the substitute bill.