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Montana removes physician supervision for CRNAs

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, April 1, 2004

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Earlier this year, Montana became the 12^th state to inform the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that it was opting out of the federal physician supervision requirement for nurse anesthetists.

Montana Governor Judy Martz informed CMS of the opt-out, which was supported by the state Board of Medical Examiners and Board of Nursing, according to a press release on the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists' Web site. States can take advantage of an anesthesia care rule published by CMS in 2001, which allows a governor to notify CMS of the state's desire to be exempt from the supervision required for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). The following states have also opted out of the requirement: Iowa, Nebraska, Idaho, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Kansas, North Dakota, Washington, Alaska, and Oregon.

A governor can opt out of the requirement for physician supervision of CRNAs after consulting with the state's boards of medicine and nursing, determining that opting out of the requirement is consistent with state law, and deciding that it is in the best interests of the state's citizens. Almost 80% of Montana's hospitals depend solely on CRNAs to provide anesthesia care for their surgical, obstetrical, and trauma patients, the press release indicated.

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