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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1923 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1499
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
_________________
PRESENTED BY:
John J. Cronin
_________________
To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act relative to anesthesiologist assistants.
_______________
PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John J. CroninWorcester and Middlesex 1 of 5
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1923 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1499
By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1499) of John J. Cronin for
legislation relative to anesthesiologist assistants. Public Health.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 1347 OF 2023-2024.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act relative to anesthesiologist assistants.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 112 of the General laws is hereby amended by adding the following sections
2after section 12GG:
3 Section 12HH. As used in sections 12HH to 12MM, inclusive, the following words shall
4have the following meanings:
5 (i) “Anesthesiologist” means a physician who is licensed under section 2 of chapter 112
6and has completed a residency in anesthesiology approved by the American Board of
7Anesthesiology or the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology;
8 (ii) "Anesthesiologist assistant" means any person who assists in the practice of medicine
9under the supervision of an anesthesiologist or group of anesthesiologists approved by the board
10to supervise such assistant; 2 of 5
11 (i) "Assists" means the anesthesiologist assistant may personally perform those duties and
12responsibilities delegated to him by his supervising anesthesiologist with the supervising
13anesthesiologist being physically present in the same facility.
14 (ii) "Back-up anesthesiologist" means a board approved physician anesthesiologist
15designated by the supervising anesthesiologist to ensure supervision of the anesthesiologist
16assistant in the supervising anesthesiologist's absence. A back up anesthesiologist is subject to
17the same requirements imposed upon the supervising anesthesiologist if the back-up
18anesthesiologist is acting as a supervising anesthesiologist;
19 (iii) “Board” means the Board of Registration in Medicine;
20 (iv) "Supervising anesthesiologist" means a:
21 i. Anesthesiologist who utilizes and agrees to be responsible for the medical acts of a
22board-approved anesthesiologist assistant; or
23 ii. Back-up anesthesiologist when acting in the absence of the supervising
24anesthesiologist;
25 (v) "Supervision" means the ready, on-site availability of the supervising anesthesiologist
26for consultation and direction of the activities of the anesthesiologist assistant;
27 (vi) “In the same facility” refers to anywhere in the facility where anesthesia services
28may be needed including but not limited to the operating room suites, intensive care unit,
29emergency room, obstetric suite, endoscopy suite, radiology suite, cardiac services suite, and
30recovery room. 3 of 5
31 Section 12II. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an anesthesiologist assistant
32may assist in the practice of medicine relating to the provision of anesthesia services under the
33supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist assistant may perform those
34duties and responsibilities delegated to him by the supervising anesthesiologist when the duties
35and responsibilities are provided under the supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist approved
36by the board. The board may adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of sections
3712HH to 12MM that include scope of practice of an anesthesiologist assistant including
38requirements and limitations on the provision of anesthesia services by an anesthesiologist
39assistant as determined by the board to be in the best interests of patient health and safety and
40consistent with the standards of care established by the National Commission for Certification of
41Anesthesiologist Assistants.. Regulations adopted by the board pursuant to this section shall
42include the following provisions:
43 (1) An anesthesiologist assistant must be supervised by an anesthesiologist licensed under
44section 2 of chapter112 who is actively engaged in clinical practice and available on-site to
45provide assistance to the anesthesiologist assistant.
46 (2) Anesthesiologist assistants must comply with all continuing education requirements
47and recertification requirements of the National Commission for Certification of
48Anesthesiologist Assistants or its successor organization.
49 Section 12JJ. The board shall register and issue licenses to anesthesiologists assistants in
50the commonwealth, take appropriate disciplinary action against anesthesiologist assistants,
51approve and issue certificates of approval of programs for the training of anesthesiologist
52assistants and maintain a current roster of persons serving as anesthesiologist assistants in the 4 of 5
53commonwealth as well as a list of approved training programs. Disciplinary action may include
54revocation or suspension of license, censure or other disciplinary action, including the imposition
55of restrictions upon a license relating to a violation of the boards regulations.
56 Section 12KK. (a) Applications for licensure as an anesthesiology assistant shall be
57submitted in accordance with procedures established by the board. The board may grant an
58anesthesiologist assistant license to an applicant who:
59 (i) Has graduated from an anesthesiologist assistant program accredited by the
60Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or its
61predecessor or successor organization;
62 (ii) Has satisfactorily completed a certification examination administered by the National
63Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants or other national certifying agency
64established for such purposes which has been reviewed and approved by the board and is
65currently certified;
66 (iii) Completes an application form and pays a licensing fee in an amount determined by
67the board.
68 (b) The board may issue a temporary license to any person who successfully completes a
69CAAHEP or other board approved program for the education and training of an anesthesiologist
70assistant but has not passed a certification examination. To allow the opportunity to take the
71next available certification examination, any temporary license issued pursuant to this subsection
72shall be issued for a period not to exceed one (1) year. 5 of 5
73 (c) All licenses other than temporary licenses expire annually on December 31. An
74anesthesiologist assistant may renew his license by completing and submitting a renewal
75application form published by the board and renewal fee to the board prior to expiration of his
76current license.
77 (d) The board may reinstate a lapsed license if the applicant pays a reinstatement fee and
78meets the requirements for the granting of an initial license.
79 Section 12LL. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, nothing in Sections
8012HH to 12MM shall be construed to prevent an anesthesiologist assistant from having access to
81and being able to obtain drugs as ordered and directed by the supervising anesthesiologist.
82 Section 12MM. Any person practicing as an anesthesiologist assistant or representing that
83he is an anesthesiologist assistant without a license or any person employing an unlicensed
84person to practice as an anesthesiologist assistant shall be punished by a fine of not less than
85$100 and not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not less than 30 days and not more than 1
86year in the house of corrections, or by both such fine and imprisonment.