Bill allowing collaboration between physicians and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists signed into law

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation modernizing how Oklahoma regulates Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) has been signed into law.  Senate Bill 801, authored by Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Marcus McEntire, R-Duncan, was signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt on Thursday.

Rosino said the new law changes the previous regulatory language from a supervisory relationship between physicians and CRNAs to collaboration, bringing Oklahoma in line with most of the country.  Forty other states and the military already utilize this team approach. Rosino said the legislation settles a stand-off on the issue that’s taken years to resolve.

“As Oklahoma continues to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, finding cooperative solutions to address public health issues has never been more important.  This legislation is going to be extremely important in our overall efforts to increase access to quality health care, especially in rural Oklahoma,” Rosino said. “We’re grateful to Governor Stitt and to our fellow members for supporting this legislation.  I especially want to thank all of the organizations who worked with us to craft this compromise legislation and get it across the finish line, including the Oklahoma Association of Nurse Anesthetists (OANA), the Oklahoma Society of Anesthesiologists (OSA), the Oklahoma State Medical Association (OSMA), and the Oklahoma Osteopathic Association (OOA).”

McEntire, who chairs the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee on Health, also praised the cooperation between stakeholders in developing the legislation.

“Senate Bill 801 is the work of years of negotiations over the scope of practice between CRNAs and the physicians with whom they work,” McEntire said. “The fact that both groups were able to come together in consensus over this legislation is gratifying, especially during this time when both of these groups are in much demand.”

For more information, contact Sen. Paul Rosino at 405-521-5618 or email Paul.Rosino@oksenate.gov

or contact Rep. Marcus McEntire at 405-557-7327 or email Marcus.mcentire@okhouse.gov.

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