On Tuesday, December 10, 2002 – Drs. John Bastulli and McCallum Hoyt, both members of the AMC/NOMA, testified before the Ohio State Medical Board regarding the anesthesiologist assistant rules. The rules were generated by the Anesthesiologist Assistant Advisory Committee (AAAC) to regulate the practice of licensed anesthesiologist assistants (AAs) and supervising anesthesiologists. The rules cover basic definitions, supervision, enhanced supervision for the first four years of practice, and prohibitions. The two issues that formed the core of the new regulations were supervision requirements and the AA’s scope of practice.
Dr. Bastulli testified on behalf of the AMC/NOMA. He stated that the AMC/NOMA actively supports the supervised practice of AAs and that we have worked to assure that AAs are licensed and brought under the jurisdiction of the state board. He also provided information to the board regarding his personal experience with AAs in his practice. Dr. Hoyt provided information regarding her experiences with AAs in her practice and provided the committee with her opinions regarding the rules. The state board is considering amendments to the rules based upon testimony.