<BillNo> <Sponsor>
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION 122
By Hawk
HJR0122
002678
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A RESOLUTION relative to anesthesia workforce.
WHEREAS, Tennessee faces increasing healthcare costs and workforce staffing issues,
including for anesthesia services; and
WHEREAS, anesthesia services are critical to facilities delivering care to patients across
the State of Tennessee; and
WHEREAS, facilities are experiencing a dramatic increase in requests for financial
support of anesthesia service providers; and
WHEREAS, while operating room and non-operating room anesthesia coverage
requirements are typically under the purview of the hospital, the anesthesia provider group is
responsible for determining how the locations will be staffed; and
WHEREAS, there are many factors to be considered when evaluating anesthesia staffing
needs and challenges; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE HUNDRED
FOURTEENTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE, THE SENATE
CONCURRING, that the Department of Health, in collaboration with the board of nursing and
the board of medical examiners, is directed to conduct a comprehensive study to evaluate and
make recommendations regarding anesthesia workforce and staffing across all facilities
providing anesthesia services in Tennessee.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the study should give consideration to, but not be
limited to:
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1. Assessing the number and distribution of qualified anesthesia providers,
including physician anesthesiologists and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs),
across Tennessee;
2. Evaluating and assessing the existing education and training infrastructure for
physician anesthesiologists and CRNAs in Tennessee;
3. Identifying barriers to recruitment, retention, and practice of physician
anesthesiologists and CRNAs;
4. Identifying and assessing key factors involved in anesthesia staffing, including
but not limited to, reimbursement, staffing models, resource allocation and outpatient
trends, workforce pipeline retention/recruitment, burnout/fatigue, aging population of both
patients and providers, barriers to practice, workplace environment, and location of facility;
5. Providing a comprehensive overview of anesthesia staffing in Tennessee and
developing policy recommendations related to anesthesia staffing and optimizing the cost
of providing anesthesia services; and
6. Assessing whether the existing anesthesia workforce is being utilized to its full
potential under current state and federal requirements.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Health, in collaboration with the
board of nursing and the board of medical examiners, will seek input from stakeholders, including,
but not limited to, the Tennessee Society of Anesthesiologists, Tennessee Association of Nurse
Anesthetists, Rural Health Association of Tennessee, Tennessee Hospital Association, and
Tennessee Center for Health Workforce Development (TCWD).
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Health, in collaboration with the
board of nursing and the board of medical examiners, will review relevant literature that is
published in a credible, peer-reviewed journal.
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BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Department of Health, in collaboration with the
board of nursing and the board of medical examiners, will complete its study and report its
findings and recommendations to the house and senate committees having jurisdiction over
subject matter concerning the Department of Health on or before January 31, 2026.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a certified copy of this resolution be prepared and
delivered to the Commissioner of the Department of Health, the board of medical examiners,
and the board of nursing.