UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1638 Page 1 of 2 XXXX 1/17/2024 10:13 AM Jacketed A RESOLUTION recognizing January 23, 2024, as Certified Registered Nurse 1 Anesthetists Day in Kentucky. 2 WHEREAS, Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced 3 practice registered nurses, are among the most trusted health care professionals, and have 4 been providing anesthesia to patients in the United States for more than 150 years; and 5 WHEREAS, legislation passed by the United States Congress in 1986 made nurse 6 anesthetists the first nursing specialty to be accorded direct reimbursement rights by 7 Medicare; and 8 WHEREAS, CRNAs are the primary anesthesia providers in rural communities, 9 continue to be the primary providers of anesthesia care to United States military 10 personnel, and comprise two-thirds of the anesthesia providers in the Commonwealth; 11 and 12 WHEREAS, CRNAs provide anesthesia services in every Kentucky county that has 13 a hospital or surgery center with surgical services and are the sole providers of anesthesia 14 services in nearly half of those counties, including 17 critical access hospitals; and 15 WHEREAS, CRNAs practice in every setting in which anesthesia is delivered, 16 including traditional hospital surgical suites, obstetrical delivery rooms, critical access 17 hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and the offices of dentists, podiatrists, 18 ophthalmologists, and pain management specialists; and 19 WHEREAS, CRNAs are qualified to make independent judgements regarding all 20 aspects of anesthesia care based on their education, training, and licensure; and 21 WHEREAS, CRNAs are trusted anesthesia experts on the frontline, delivering 22 specialized, cost-effective care to all patients, from newborns to seniors, for every type of 23 procedure, and in all types of facilities; and 24 WHEREAS, CRNAs have courageously served all Kentuckians in need, utilizing 25 their advanced skills in airway management, intubation, and ventilator management 26 during past and current healthcare crises; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1638 Page 2 of 2 XXXX 1/17/2024 10:13 AM Jacketed WHEREAS, CRNAs will continue to deliver safe and compassionate high-quality 1 anesthesia care to all Kentuckians, especially those in rural and underserved 2 communities; 3 NOW, THEREFORE, 4 Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 5 Kentucky: 6 Section 1. The members of the Senate hereby recognize January 23, 2024, as 7 Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists Day to highlight the importance of their role in 8 providing high quality care for the citizens of the Commonwealth. 9 Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate is directed to transmit a copy of this 10 Resolution to Senator Christian McDaniel. 11