February 20, 2003

Madam President:

Your PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:

1. On page 1, line 11, before "CHANGING" insert "CHANGING A DEFINITION; CHANGING THE SCOPE OF AUTHORITY OF ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANTS;".

2. On page 1, between lines 15 and 16, insert the following new sections:

"Section 1. Section 61-6-10.2 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2001, Chapter 311, Section 2) is amended to read:

"61-6-10.2. DEFINITIONS.--As used in the Anesthesiologist Assistants Act:

A. "anesthesiologist" means a physician licensed to practice medicine in New Mexico who has successfully completed an accredited anesthesiology graduate medical education program, who is board certified by the American board of anesthesiology or board eligible, who has completed a residency in anesthesiology within the last three years or who has foreign training or certification determined by the board to be the substantial equivalent and who is an employee of the department of anesthesiology of a medical school in New Mexico;

B. "anesthesiologist assistant" means a skilled person employed or to be employed by a university in New Mexico with a medical school certified by the board as being qualified by academic and practical training to assist an anesthesiologist in developing and implementing anesthesia care plans for patients under the supervision and direction of the anesthesiologist who is responsible for the performance of that anesthesiologist assistant;

C. "applicant" means a person who is applying to the board for a license as an anesthesiologist assistant;

D. "board" means the New Mexico board of medical examiners; and

E. "license" means an authorization to practice as an anesthesiologist assistant."

Section 2. Section 61-6-10.3 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 2001, Chapter 311, Section 3) is amended to read:

"61-6-10.3. LICENSURE--REGISTRATION--ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANT--SCOPE OF AUTHORITY.--

A. The board may license qualified persons as anesthesiologist assistants.

B. [No] A person shall not perform, attempt to perform or hold himself out as an anesthesiologist assistant until he is licensed by the board as an anesthesiologist assistant and has registered his supervising licensed anesthesiologist in accordance with board regulations.

C. An anesthesiologist assistant may assist the supervising anesthesiologist in developing and implementing an anesthesia care plan for a patient. In providing assistance to the supervising anesthesiologist, an anesthesiologist assistant may do any of the following:

(1) obtain a comprehensive patient history and perform a physical exam, order laboratory tests, x-rays and diagnostic procedures and present the history and exam findings to the supervising anesthesiologist who must conduct a pre-anesthetic interview and evaluation;

(2) pretest and calibrate anesthesia delivery systems;

(3) monitor, obtain and interpret information from anesthesia delivery systems and anesthesia monitoring equipment;

(4) assist the supervising anesthesiologist with the implementation of medically accepted monitoring techniques;

(5) establish basic and advanced airway interventions, including intubation of the trachea and performing ventilatory support;

(6) administer intermittent vasoactive drugs;

(7) start and adjust vasoactive infusions;

(8) administer anesthetic drugs, adjuvant drugs and accessory drugs;

(9) assist the supervising anesthesiologist with the performance of epidural anesthetic procedures and spinal anesthetic procedures;

(10) administer blood, blood products and supportive fluids;

(11) participate in administrative activities and clinical teaching activities;

(12) participate in research activities by performing the same procedures that may be performed under Paragraphs (1) through (10) of this subsection; and

(13) provide assistance to cardiopulmonary resuscitation teams in response to life-threatening situations.

D. An applicant shall complete an application form provided by the board and shall submit the completed [forms] form with the application fee to the board."".,

and thence referred to the JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.

Respectfully submitted,

__________________________________

Dede Feldman, Chairman

Adopted_______________________ Not Adopted_______________________

(Chief Clerk) (Chief Clerk)

Date ________________________

The roll call vote was 6 For 2 Against

Yes: 6

No: 2

Excused: Adair, Sanchez, M.

Absent: None

S0073PA1 .144605.1