1. NYSANA Government Affairs:
2018 Legislative Update
NYSANA
Spring Educational Meeting
Rivers Casino
Schenectady, NY
May 6, 2018
Presented by: Diane Frazier
Elk Street Group, LLC

2. Strategy & Mission
Educate about the practice of nurse anesthesia and issues impacting it.
Advocate for patient choice and access to safe, quality, and affordable anesthesia care for all.
Promote the practice’s priorities by supporting the highest standards of professional competency and accountability.
Personalize the practice by sharing real patient stories.

3. New York’s Political Landscape
Executive Governor Andrew Cuomo
Senate
Majority Leader John Flanagan
Republican Majority*
Assembly
Speaker Carl Heastie
Democrat Majority

4. 2018 Elections 2018 is a pivotal statewide election year in NYS
All 213 state legislators are up for re-election, plus Governor and statewide offices.
Reunification of the IDC with mainline Democrats
April 24th Special Elections filled 9 vacancies in the Assembly. 2 seats in Senate yielded a Democrat numerical majority, but did not shift power. Senator Felder (D-Brooklyn) still caucuses with the GOP.
Governor’s race heats up – Cynthia Nixon and progressive factor – will the Blue Wave hit NY?

5. 2018-19 Executive Budget Proposal to Enact Scope of Practice for CRNAs
NYSANA’s budget proposal:  Amend Education law to recognize CRNAs as advanced practice registered nurses with full scope of practice commensurate with education, training and experience and provide greater patient access to safe, cost-effective anesthesia services.  
Modeled after the Nurse Practitioner Modernization Act of 2014
Supported by published, national and state specific scientific studies
Access and Cost-effectiveness:
Increasing demand; set to outpace supply by 7% by 2030.  
Geographic provider imbalance.
Cost Savings: Increased utilization of CRNAs estimated to generate $2M annually at the facility level per average twelve room surgical department.
Policy Objective: Remove artificial and costly barriers to CRNA practice and allow the system to more fully utilize a critical member of the healthcare workforce. Ensure more robust provider network, improve patient access to more efficient, cost-effective care without sacrificing quality.    

6. 2018 Legislative Session Budget Passed [April 1st]
Federal tax reform “fix”
$4B deficit closed
Governor’s policy initiatives largely removed, including CRNA proposal
Now begins the End-of- Session Season. [June 20th]
Legislature returned to Albany on 4/16 to wrap-up regular session work. 20 scheduled session days remain!

7. NYSANA’s Legislative Priorities
Scope of Practice (A.8807 Gottfried / S Bailey)
Closely mirrors Governor’s budget proposal, based on NP certification law
Title Protection (A.442 Paulin / S.1385 Gallivan)
Ensures that only properly educated and prepared individuals hold themselves out as CRNAs. Establishes minimum competency standards and registration requirements.
Insurance Reimbursement (A.115 Cahill /S.1465 Ritchie): Authorizes reimbursement for CRNA services by health plans.
Prescriptive Authority (A.4500 Gottfried): permits CRNAs to prescribe within their scope of practice

8. Coalition Building

9. NYSANA OPPOSES:
Anesthesiologist Assistant Bill: (S.5780 Hannon/ A.6560 Schimminger)
Authorizes the licensed profession of “Anesthesiologist Assistant.”
MDA Scope of Practice: (S.4422 DeFrancisco/A.1829 Morelle)
Restricts current CRNA practice to the rendering of anesthesia services under physician supervision.

10. Get Involved! NYSANA Lobby Day—May 7, 2018
You can make a difference!
You are in the best position to spread the word and educate the public about CRNA practice.
Recruit others - encourage fellow practitioners (and students!) to get involved.
Continually make nurse anesthetists vocal and visible.
Your time, talents, personal connections, and support are all essential to the survival of the Association and the profession.
Professionals promoting their own profession are the best advocates.

11. Questions?