Patients First Act
The COVID-19 crisis has highlighted the critical care and airway expertise that CRNAs provide every day. While performing under immense pressure this year, Massachusetts CRNAs also successfully reach out to elected officials in RECORD NUMBERS to support more autonomy for CRNA prescriptive practice!
Because of YOUR work, the Legislature passed, and the Governor signed, The Patients First Act, a health care bill that recognizes the independence and skill of all CRNAs. This new law is similar to the current Executive Order (issued in March) that Massachusetts CRNAs are currently working under, with the potential for more CRNA independence.
For the time being CRNAs will continue to work under the terms of the Executive Order. For more information please see the below chart and resource links. Similar information was distributed in March. The next step for the new law is promulgation, or having the language written into regulations, by the Board of Registration in Nursing (BORN). As that process moves forward we will keep you updated.
Make no mistake about it...this is a huge victory for our profession. Your strong response to MANA's calls to action have resulted in a clear recognition of the vital role Massachusetts CRNAs play in the healthcare system. THANK YOU. Give YOURSELVES a hand!
Legislative Update
As the new Massachusetts legislative session begins, I want to inform you that a bill has been filed that would allow Anesthesiologist Assistants to begin practicing in Massachusetts. We are still in the earliest days of this two-year legislative session, so there will be a long road ahead of review and debate.
MANA is already hard at work advocating on your behalf to explain to legislators why this would be a bad move for Massachusetts healthcare.
Stay tuned for next steps. In the meantime, use the AANA as a resource to read up on AAs here.
Legislative Session
1/6/21-1/3/23
Welcome to a new legislative session!
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