JEFFERSON CITY - The State Senate gave swift passage to a Senate Substitute for HB 390, sponsored by Rep. Bob Behnen and handled by Sen. John Cauthorn, R-Mexico, that would help address a critical shortage of anesthesia providers. HB 390 was identical to Senate Bill 300 filed by Sen. Cauthorn, and was passed out of the Senate by a majority vote of 29 to two.

"A recent national hospital survey indicated that 47% of hospitals have limited the number of operating rooms in service or the number of hours the rooms are available due because of a lack of anesthesia providers. Physicians need help in the operating room to avoid cancellations or delays in surgeries," Sen. Cauthorn said. "This bill helps to alleviate that problem by allowing the licensure of anesthesiologist assistants to work the under supervision of physician anesthesiologists."

Under HB 390, an anesthesiologist assistant can only practice under the direct supervision of an anesthesiologist who is physically present or immediately available. These assistants help ensure that all surgical procedures that require anesthesia are done safely, promptly, and smoothly under a proven anesthesia care team approach."

"Missouri is a net exporter of health care services, and this bill may help us retain and expand more high-quality jobs to meet the high demand in anesthesia services," Sen. Cauthorn said. "Fourteen other states employ anesthesiologist assistants, and we hope that Missouri hospitals can find the help that they desperately need."

An anesthesiologist assistant can obtain a license by submitting an application to the Missouri Board of Healing Arts. Upon approval of the application, the board will issue a license that is valid for two years. An assistant awaiting state board examination results may obtain a temporary license. As is standard for all medical licensing, the board may refuse to issue, suspend or renew a license for various reasons.

"Another provision of this legislation would create an Advisory Commission for Anesthesiologist Assistants to review and oversee the practice, as well as make recommendations to the board," Sen. Cauthorn said. "While medicine is a science, healing is an art. It is our responsibility as lawmakers to enable medical professionals to effectively practice both in order to save lives."

Today, the bill was truly agreed to and finally passed in the House of Representatives. The bill now goes to the governor to await his signature, where if given, the bill becomes law.