HB251: HB251 Nurses; certified registered nurse anesthetist to order and administer anesthesia and an anesthesia plan under certain conditions; provide

Current Georgia law (O.C.G.A. § 43-26-11.1) allows certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to administer anesthesia under the direction and responsibility of a licensed physician wherever a physician could lawfully administer it. This bill rewrites that section to also let CRNAs order anesthesia and develop an anesthesia plan, as long as it happens under a physician's direction and responsibility and in coordination with that physician. The bill adds definitions for 'anesthesia plan' (evaluating patients, choosing anesthetic agents and techniques, ordering related medications and tests) and 'coordination' (physicians and CRNAs sharing information and jointly managing a patient's care). It also says hospitals and other healthcare facilities can still set their own policies on anesthesia, and that a physician not personally delivering anesthesia is not liable for a CRNA's acts or omissions when the CRNA administers anesthesia under this arrangement. The law would take effect as soon as the Governor signs it or it otherwise becomes law without a signature.

• Expands the authority of certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to order anesthesia and create an anesthesia plan, not just administer anesthesia.
• Adds a legal definition of 'anesthesia plan' covering patient evaluation, referrals, choice of anesthetic agent, and ordering related tests and medications.
• Adds a legal definition of 'coordination' describing how physicians and CRNAs are meant to jointly manage a patient's anesthesia care.
• Confirms healthcare facilities keep the authority to adopt their own internal policies on how anesthesia is provided.
• Shields a physician who is not personally delivering anesthesia from liability for a CRNA's acts or omissions during anesthesia administration.

Certified registered nurse anesthetists and the physicians who direct or coordinate with them, patients receiving anesthesia in Georgia, and hospitals and other healthcare facilities that set internal policies on anesthesia care.

The change could let CRNAs take on a more active role in planning and ordering anesthesia care rather than only administering it, while still requiring a physician's direction and coordination, and it clarifies that a non-delivering physician cannot be held liable for a CRNA's actions.

• Section 1 revises O.C.G.A. § 43-26-11.1 to let a CRNA order and administer anesthesia and an anesthesia plan, not just administer anesthesia as before.
• Section 1(a) defines 'anesthesia plan' and 'coordination' for purposes of this Code section.
• Section 1(b) requires that anesthesia ordered or administered by a CRNA still occur under the direction and responsibility of a licensed physician and in coordination with a physician.
• Section 1(c) preserves a healthcare facility's authority to adopt its own policies on providing anesthesia.
• Section 1(d) exempts a physician not personally delivering anesthesia from liability for a CRNA's acts or omissions under this arrangement.
• Section 2 sets the effective date as the date the Governor signs the bill or it otherwise becomes law without a signature.
• Section 3 repeals conflicting laws.

1. 2025-02-06House Second Readers (House)
2. 2025-02-05House First Readers (House)
3. 2025-02-04House Hopper (House)

• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)Primary sponsor
• James Hatchett (R, HD-155)
• Alan Powell (R, HD-033)
• Mike Cheokas (R, HD-151)
• Stan Gunter (R, HD-008)
• David Wilkerson (D, HD-038)

• nurse anesthetists
• anesthesia care
• medical liability
• healthcare regulation
• nursing law