This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h1101c.HHS
DATE: 2/17/2022
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 1101 Anesthesiologist Assistants
SPONSOR(S): Professions & Public Health Subcommittee, Altman
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 1366
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Professions & Public Health Subcommittee 18 Y, 0 N, As CS Morris McElroy
2) Health & Human Services Committee 19 Y, 1 N Morris Calamas
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
An anesthesiologist assistant assists an anesthesiologist with developing and implementing an anesthesia
care plan for patients. Anesthesiologist assistants are regulated under chs. 458 and 459, F.S., and by the
Boards of Medicine (BOM) and Osteopathic Medicine (BOOM) within the Department of Health (DOH).
Anesthesiologist assistants perform duties under a protocol with an anesthesiologist and work under the direct
supervision of an anesthesiologist. An anesthesiologist must be onsite and physically present in the office or
surgical suite when a procedure is performed to supervise an anesthesiologist assistant. The supervising
anesthesiologist must also be immediately available to provide assistance to the anesthesiologist assistant
while services are delivered to a patient.
CS/HB 1101 revises the direct supervision requirements for an anesthesiologist assistant by removing the
requirement that supervising anesthesiologists be in the office or surgical suite when supervising an
anesthesiologist assistant. Instead, the bill requires the supervising anesthesiologist to be physically present
on premises and immediately available to an anesthesiologist assistant. The bill also authorizes
anesthesiologist assistants to personally administer prescribed anesthetic under the direct supervision of an
anesthesiologist, consistent with BOM declaratory statement on the issue.
Anesthesiologist assistants must submit sworn statements of any prior felony convictions and any prior
discipline or denial of licensure or certification in any state in an application for licensure in this state. The bill
removes the requirement such statements be sworn, allowing applications for licensure to be completed
electronically.
The bill has no fiscal impact on DOH and local governments.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2022. STORAGE NAME: h1101c.HHS PAGE: 2
DATE: 2/17/2022
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Background
Anesthesiologist Assistants
Licensure
An anesthesiologist assistant assists an anesthesiologist
1
with developing and implementing an
anesthesia care plan for patients.
To become licensed as an anesthesiologist assistant in this state, an applicant must:
Complete a training program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health
Education Programs;
2
Pass an examination established by the National Commission on Certification of
Anesthesiologist Assistants;
Be certified in advanced cardiac life support; and
Submit an application fee, as set by the BOM or the BOOM and completed an application,
which must include:
o A certificate of completion of an approved graduate level program;
o A sworn statement of any prior felony convictions;
o A sworn statement of any prior discipline or denial of licensure or certification in any
state; and
o Two letters of recommendation from anesthesiologists.
Anesthesiologist assistants must hold a current certificate issued by the National Commission on
Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants or complete 40 hours of continuing education every two
years.
3
Practice Protocol
Anesthesiologist assistants may perform duties established by BOM or BOOM rule and included in a
protocol with an anesthesiologist. Such duties include:
4
Obtaining a comprehensive patient history and present the history to the supervising
anesthesiologist;
Pretesting and calibrating anesthesia delivery systems and monitoring, obtaining, and
interpreting information from the systems and monitors;
Assisting the supervising anesthesiologist with the implementation of medically accepted
monitoring techniques;
Establishing basic and advanced airway interventions, including intubation of the trachea and
performing ventilatory support;
Administering intermittent vasoactive drugs and starting and adjusting vasoactive infusions;
Administering anesthetic drugs, adjuvant drugs, and accessory drugs;
1
An anesthesiologist is an allopathic or osteopathic physician regulated under chs. 458 and 459, F.S., respectively, and
the Board of Medicine (BOM) and the Board of Osteopathic Medicine (BOOM) within the Department of Health (DOH),
who has completed an anesthesiology training program approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical
Education and is certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology.
2
Rules 64B8-31.004 and 64B15-7.004, F.A.C.
3
S. 458.3475(5) and 459.023(5), F.S.
4
S. 458.3475(3) and 459.023(3), F.S. STORAGE NAME: h1101c.HHS PAGE: 3
DATE: 2/17/2022
Assisting the supervising anesthesiologist with the performance of epidural anesthetic
procedures and spinal anesthetic procedures;
Administering blood, blood products, and supportive fluids;
Supporting life functions during anesthesia health care, including induction and intubation
procedures, the use of appropriate mechanical supportive devices, and the management of
fluid, electrolyte, and blood component balances;
Recognizing and taking appropriate corrective action for abnormal patient responses to
anesthesia, adjunctive medication, or other forms of therapy;
Participating in management of the patient while in the post-anesthesia recovery area, including
the administration of any supporting fluids or drugs; and
Placing special peripheral and central venous and arterial lines for blood sampling and
monitoring, as appropriate.
An anesthesiologist or a group of anesthesiologists must file a written protocol with the BOM and
BOOM upon establishment of a supervisory relationship with an anesthesiologist assistant. Such
protocol must be updated biennially, include the signatures of the anesthesiologist assistant and all
supervising physicians.
5
Duties Under Direct Supervision
An anesthesiology assistant may only provide services under the direct supervision of an
anesthesiologist.
6
Direct supervision means onsite, personal supervision by an anesthesiologist who is
present in the office or surgical suite when the procedure is being performed and is immediately
available to provide assistance to the anesthesiologist assistant while services are being delivered.
7
The office or surgical suite requirement prohibits an anesthesiologist, who is otherwise physically
present on the premises and immediately available, from supervising an anesthesiologist assistant.
Administration of Anesthetic
Current law authorizes an anesthesiologist assistant to “assist” the supervising anesthesiologist with
the performance of epidural anesthetic procedures and spinal anesthetic procedures under a protocol
and under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist.
8
In 2017, an anesthesiologist filed a petition for declaratory statement with the BOM seeking a
determination of whether current law allows an anesthesiologist assistant to personally perform
anesthetic procedures under direct supervision of an anesthesiologist. The BOM concluded that
“assist”, within the context of s. 458.3475, F.S., allows an anesthesiologist assistant to personally
perform epidural anesthetic procedures and spinal anesthetic procedures as long as the
anesthesiologist is in the same room where the procedures are being performed.
9
5
S 458.3475(2)(b) and 459.023(2)(b), F.S.
6
S. 458.3475(3)(a) and 459.023(3)(a), F.S. The practice of anesthesiology includes pain relief during and after surgery
and childbirth, during chronic disease processes, and during resuscitation and critical care of patients in the operating
room and intensive care.
7
S. 458.3475(1)(g) and 459.023(1)(g), F.S.
8
S. 458.3475(3)(a) and 459.023(3)(a), F.S.
9
Department of Health, Final Order on Petition for Declaratory Statement (filed Nov. 8, 2017) (on file with Professions and
Public Health Subcommittee staff). The final order specifies that the supervising anesthesiologist must: personally
examine each and every patient and order the medication to be administered; directly supervise the administration of the
medication by remaining in the same room as the anesthesiologist assistant performing the procedure; verify the training
and capability of the anesthesiologist assistant to provide such services; and include precautions in the protocol filed with
the BOM or BOOM by the supervising anesthesiologist. STORAGE NAME: h1101c.HHS PAGE: 4
DATE: 2/17/2022
Effect of the Bill
Licensure
The bill removes the requirement that anesthesiologist assistant licensure applications contain sworn
statements of any prior felony convictions and any prior discipline or denial of licensure or certification
in any state. This allows applications for licensure to be completed electronically.
Duties Under Direct Supervision
CS/HB 1101 revises the direct supervision requirements for an anesthesiologist assistant by removing
the requirement that supervising anesthesiologists be in the office or surgical suite when supervising an
anesthesiologist assistant. Instead, the bill requires the supervising anesthesiologist to be physically
present on premises and immediately available to an anesthesiologist assistant.
Administration of Anesthetic
In a 2017 Final Order, the BOM concluded that “assist”, within the context of s. 458.3475, F.S., allows
an anesthesiologist assistant to personally perform epidural anesthetic procedures and spinal
anesthetic procedures as long as the anesthesiologist is in the same room where the procedures are
being performed. The bill codifies the BOM’s determination and authorizes anesthesiologist assistants
to personally administer prescribed anesthetic under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1: Amends s. 458.3475, F.S., relating to anesthesiologist assistants.
Section 2: Amends s. 459.023, F.S., relating to anesthesiologist assistants.
Section 3: Provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
None. STORAGE NAME: h1101c.HHS PAGE: 5
DATE: 2/17/2022
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
None. This bill does not appear to affect county or municipal governments.
2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
Current law provides sufficient rulemaking authority to implement the provisions of the bill.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
On February 2, 2022, the Professions and Public Health Subcommittee adopted an amendment and
reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. The amendment:
Specified “direct supervision” by an anesthesiologist means the anesthesiologist is physically
present and immediately available as needed;
Authorized anesthesiologist assistants to personally administer prescribed anesthetic and
perform tasks and services specified in a written protocol under the direct supervision of an
anesthesiologist; and
Removed the requirement that anesthesiologist assistant licensure applications contain sworn
statements of any prior felony convictions and any prior discipline or denial of licensure.
This analysis is drafted to the committee substitute as passed by the Professions and Public Health
Subcommittee.