Panel advances bill to license anesthesiologist assistants after contested hearing on supervision and billing

The Labor, Health & Social Services Committee on Jan. 27 approved Senate File 112, a bill to establish licensure and a scope of practice for anesthesiologist assistants (AAs) in Wyoming. Sponsor Senator Schuler presented the bill as an optional staffing model hospitals could use to address local shortages of physician anesthesiologists. The committee adopted a technical amendment proposed by the Board of Medicine and passed the measure by roll call, three ayes and two nays.

Senator Schuler said AAs are "non‑physician health professionals who provide anesthesia care under the supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist," and described their educational path: a bachelor's degree plus a master's program of roughly 24–28 months with heavy clinical training. He told the committee CAAs typically complete more than 2,000 hours…