Massachusetts 2025-2026 Regular Session

Massachusetts Senate Bill S1499 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	1 of 1
2	2	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1923 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
3	3	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1499
4	4	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
5	5	_________________
6	6	PRESENTED BY:
7	7	John J. Cronin
8	8	_________________
9	9	To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
10	10	Court assembled:
11	11	The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
12	12	An Act relative to anesthesiologist assistants.
13	13	_______________
14	14	PETITION OF:
15	15	NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :John J. CroninWorcester and Middlesex 1 of 5
16	16	SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1923 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
17	17	SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1499
18	18	By Mr. Cronin, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1499) of John J. Cronin for
19	19	legislation relative to anesthesiologist assistants. Public Health.
20	20	[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
21	21	SEE SENATE, NO. 1347 OF 2023-2024.]
22	22	The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
23	23	_______________
24	24	In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
25	25	(2025-2026)
26	26	_______________
27	27	An Act relative to anesthesiologist assistants.
28	28	Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
29	29	of the same, as follows:
30	30	1 Chapter 112 of the General laws is hereby amended by adding the following sections
31	31	2after section 12GG:
32	32	3 Section 12HH. As used in sections 12HH to 12MM, inclusive, the following words shall
33	33	4have the following meanings:
34	34	5 (i) “Anesthesiologist” means a physician who is licensed under section 2 of chapter 112
35	35	6and has completed a residency in anesthesiology approved by the American Board of
36	36	7Anesthesiology or the American Osteopathic Board of Anesthesiology;
37	37	8 (ii) "Anesthesiologist assistant" means any person who assists in the practice of medicine
38	38	9under the supervision of an anesthesiologist or group of anesthesiologists approved by the board
39	39	10to supervise such assistant; 2 of 5
40	40	11 (i) "Assists" means the anesthesiologist assistant may personally perform those duties and
41	41	12responsibilities delegated to him by his supervising anesthesiologist with the supervising
42	42	13anesthesiologist being physically present in the same facility.
43	43	14 (ii) "Back-up anesthesiologist" means a board approved physician anesthesiologist
44	44	15designated by the supervising anesthesiologist to ensure supervision of the anesthesiologist
45	45	16assistant in the supervising anesthesiologist's absence. A back up anesthesiologist is subject to
46	46	17the same requirements imposed upon the supervising anesthesiologist if the back-up
47	47	18anesthesiologist is acting as a supervising anesthesiologist;
48	48	19 (iii) “Board” means the Board of Registration in Medicine;
49	49	20 (iv) "Supervising anesthesiologist" means a:
50	50	21 i. Anesthesiologist who utilizes and agrees to be responsible for the medical acts of a
51	51	22board-approved anesthesiologist assistant; or
52	52	23 ii. Back-up anesthesiologist when acting in the absence of the supervising
53	53	24anesthesiologist;
54	54	25 (v) "Supervision" means the ready, on-site availability of the supervising anesthesiologist
55	55	26for consultation and direction of the activities of the anesthesiologist assistant;
56	56	27 (vi) “In the same facility” refers to anywhere in the facility where anesthesia services
57	57	28may be needed including but not limited to the operating room suites, intensive care unit,
58	58	29emergency room, obstetric suite, endoscopy suite, radiology suite, cardiac services suite, and
59	59	30recovery room. 3 of 5
60	60	31 Section 12II. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an anesthesiologist assistant
61	61	32may assist in the practice of medicine relating to the provision of anesthesia services under the
62	62	33supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist. The anesthesiologist assistant may perform those
63	63	34duties and responsibilities delegated to him by the supervising anesthesiologist when the duties
64	64	35and responsibilities are provided under the supervision of a licensed anesthesiologist approved
65	65	36by the board. The board may adopt rules and regulations to implement the provisions of sections
66	66	3712HH to 12MM that include scope of practice of an anesthesiologist assistant including
67	67	38requirements and limitations on the provision of anesthesia services by an anesthesiologist
68	68	39assistant as determined by the board to be in the best interests of patient health and safety and
69	69	40consistent with the standards of care established by the National Commission for Certification of
70	70	41Anesthesiologist Assistants.. Regulations adopted by the board pursuant to this section shall
71	71	42include the following provisions:
72	72	43 (1) An anesthesiologist assistant must be supervised by an anesthesiologist licensed under
73	73	44section 2 of chapter112 who is actively engaged in clinical practice and available on-site to
74	74	45provide assistance to the anesthesiologist assistant.
75	75	46 (2) Anesthesiologist assistants must comply with all continuing education requirements
76	76	47and recertification requirements of the National Commission for Certification of
77	77	48Anesthesiologist Assistants or its successor organization.
78	78	49 Section 12JJ. The board shall register and issue licenses to anesthesiologists assistants in
79	79	50the commonwealth, take appropriate disciplinary action against anesthesiologist assistants,
80	80	51approve and issue certificates of approval of programs for the training of anesthesiologist
81	81	52assistants and maintain a current roster of persons serving as anesthesiologist assistants in the 4 of 5
82	82	53commonwealth as well as a list of approved training programs. Disciplinary action may include
83	83	54revocation or suspension of license, censure or other disciplinary action, including the imposition
84	84	55of restrictions upon a license relating to a violation of the boards regulations.
85	85	56 Section 12KK. (a) Applications for licensure as an anesthesiology assistant shall be
86	86	57submitted in accordance with procedures established by the board. The board may grant an
87	87	58anesthesiologist assistant license to an applicant who:
88	88	59 (i) Has graduated from an anesthesiologist assistant program accredited by the
89	89	60Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) or its
90	90	61predecessor or successor organization;
91	91	62 (ii) Has satisfactorily completed a certification examination administered by the National
92	92	63Commission for Certification of Anesthesiologist Assistants or other national certifying agency
93	93	64established for such purposes which has been reviewed and approved by the board and is
94	94	65currently certified;
95	95	66 (iii) Completes an application form and pays a licensing fee in an amount determined by
96	96	67the board.
97	97	68 (b) The board may issue a temporary license to any person who successfully completes a
98	98	69CAAHEP or other board approved program for the education and training of an anesthesiologist
99	99	70assistant but has not passed a certification examination. To allow the opportunity to take the
100	100	71next available certification examination, any temporary license issued pursuant to this subsection
101	101	72shall be issued for a period not to exceed one (1) year. 5 of 5
102	102	73 (c) All licenses other than temporary licenses expire annually on December 31. An
103	103	74anesthesiologist assistant may renew his license by completing and submitting a renewal
104	104	75application form published by the board and renewal fee to the board prior to expiration of his
105	105	76current license.
106	106	77 (d) The board may reinstate a lapsed license if the applicant pays a reinstatement fee and
107	107	78meets the requirements for the granting of an initial license.
108	108	79 Section 12LL. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, nothing in Sections
109	109	8012HH to 12MM shall be construed to prevent an anesthesiologist assistant from having access to
110	110	81and being able to obtain drugs as ordered and directed by the supervising anesthesiologist.
111	111	82 Section 12MM. Any person practicing as an anesthesiologist assistant or representing that
112	112	83he is an anesthesiologist assistant without a license or any person employing an unlicensed
113	113	84person to practice as an anesthesiologist assistant shall be punished by a fine of not less than
114	114	85$100 and not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment for not less than 30 days and not more than 1
115	115	86year in the house of corrections, or by both such fine and imprisonment.