Authorizes health insurance reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetists providing anesthesia services

2 Co-sponsors

• George Latimer
• Patty Ritchie

BILL NUMBER:S903A

Title of bill

An act to amend the insurance law, in relation to authorizing health insurance reimbursement for certified registered nurse anesthetists providing anesthesia services

Purpose

Allows for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAS) to be eligible for reimbursement under any policy which provides coverage for anesthesia services at the discretion of the insurer.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 amends the insurance law allows that at the discretion of the insurance company anesthesia services provided by a CRNAS may be eligible for reimbursement under any policy which provides for coverage for anesthesia services. Section also defines CRNAS.

Section 2 amends the insurance law allows that at the discretion of the insurance company anesthesia services provided by a CRNAS may be eligible for reimbursement under any policy which provides for coverage for anesthesia services. Section also defines CRNAS.

Section 3 amends the insurance law allows that at the discretion of the insurance company anesthesia services provided by CRNAS may be eligible for reimbursement under any policy which provides for coverage for anesthesia services. Section also defines CRNAS.

Section 4 is the effective date.

Justification

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAS) are masters prepared nurses who are required to undergo a rigorous educational program, including clinical experience and training and pass a national exam in order to obtain certification. CRNAs provide safe and cost effective anesthesia services to patients. However, without the ability to apply for health insurance coverage, CRNAs are not assured reimbursement for these services. In rural and underserved healthcare areas, CRNAs are often the main providers of anesthesia services, rendering this nursing specialty absolutely critical to ensuring patient access to affordable, quality care. Under the current law, a patient's health insurance is not required to cover anesthesia services provided by a certified registered nurse anesthetist, even if the service would otherwise be covered. This imposes an extreme financial inequity and disincentive on the profession. It is only exacerbated in rural and poor economic areas. This bill seeks to address that by giving insurance companies the opportunity include coverage for anesthesia services provided by certified registered nurse anesthetists. CRNAs provide the safest level of patient care at the lowest cost to the patient and the system. A 2010 study published in Nursing Economics found that there is no difference in patient outcome when care is provided by CRNAs as compared with anesthesiologists, and revealed that CRNA independent delivery is not only the least costly method of providing anesthesia, but that it also generates the greatest net revenue.

Prior legislative history

S.6168A of 2011-2012

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect January 1, 2015 and shall apply to policies and contracts issues, renewed, modified, altered or amended on or after such effective date.