A new study, published in the August issue of Health Affairs and funded by the American Association of Nurse Anesthetists, claims there is no increased patient risk when nurse anesthetists provide anesthesia services without physician supervision, according to a news release from RTI International, whose researchers conducted the study.
Editor's note: Read commentary from Alexander A. Hannenberg, MD, president of American Society of Anesthesiologists, on the study by clicking here.
The study also argues that the use of CRNAs to provide anesthesia services without supervision could reduce also costs.
As a result of their conclusions, the researchers recommend CMS remove the federal Medicare requirement that nurse anesthetists be supervised in order to receive Medicare reimbursement, according to the release. States can individually opt-out of the supervision requirement but must have their governor petition CMS.
Read the news release on the nurse anesthetists study.