To Establish The Arkansas Anesthesiologist Assistant Act; And To Provide For Licensure Of Anesthesiologist Assistants.
HB1251 would create the Arkansas Anesthesiologist Assistant Act and add a new subchapter to Title 17, Chapter 95 of the Arkansas Code to establish licensure for anesthesiologist assistants. The bill defines who may qualify as an anesthesiologist assistant, requires graduation from an approved program and passage of the national certification examination, and places licensing, renewal, discipline, and rulemaking authority with the Arkansas State Medical Board.
The bill also sets out the supervisory framework for practice. An anesthesiologist or anesthesiologist group must file a written protocol with the Medical Board before an assistant begins practice, and the protocol must identify the supervising physicians, practice location, duties, emergency procedures, and related details. The bill authorizes anesthesiologist assistants, under direct supervision, to perform a broad range of anesthesia-related tasks, including patient history collection, airway management, administration of drugs and fluids, epidural and spinal procedures, and post-anesthesia support, while requiring documentation in the medical record.
HB1251 would expand Arkansas law by creating a new licensed health profession and giving the Arkansas State Medical Board authority to regulate it. It would establish standards for licensure, renewal, discipline, public records, and inter-state sharing of disciplinary information, while also authorizing the board to set fees and adopt rules. The bill would affect anesthesiologists, anesthesiologist assistants, hospitals, surgical centers, obstetrical suites, and other practice settings where anesthesia services are provided.
The available voting history suggests the bill had broad support in the House, passing third reading 72-17. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded discussion to indicate detailed concerns or endorsements. Overall, the vote pattern suggests the measure was viewed favorably by a substantial majority, likely as a professional licensing and workforce expansion bill.
The main points of contention likely center on scope of practice and supervision requirements. The bill allows anesthesiologist assistants to perform significant clinical tasks, but only under direct supervision and within a written protocol filed with the Medical Board, which may raise concerns among some physicians, professional groups, or lawmakers about patient safety, delegation limits, and oversight. The requirement that the supervising anesthesiologist be immediately available and the detailed reporting and documentation obligations may also be viewed as either necessary safeguards or administrative burdens, depending on the stakeholder.