Medicare Academic Anesthesiology and CRNA Payment Improvement Act of 2007

The Medicare Academic Anesthesiology and CRNA Payment Improvement Act of 2007 (H.R. 1932) was a bill in the 110th Congress "to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for improved payments under the Medicare Program for academic anesthesiology programs for resident physicians and for academic programs for student registered nurse anesthetists." (Official title.)

Current status


Bill summary

 * Amends title XVIII (Medicare) part B (Supplementary Medical Insurance Benefits for the Aged and Disabled) of the Social Security Act to set forth a special payment rule for teaching anesthesiologists (TAs) and teaching certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).
 * Requires payment of 100% of the fee schedule amount otherwise applicable for anesthesia services personally performed by the TA alone when the TA is training physician residents or student nurse anesthetists in a single anesthesia case or two concurrent anesthesia cases, if:
 * (1) the TA is present during all critical or key portions of the anesthesia service or case involved; and
 * (2) either the TA or an anesthesiologist or a CRNA with whom the TA has made special arrangements is immediately available to furnish anesthesia services during the entire case.


 * States that this special payment rule shall not apply in the case of physician services furnished by an anesthesiologist who medically directs a CRNA involved in the training of student nurse anesthetists in a single anesthesia case or two concurrent anesthesia cases.
 * Applies to a CRNA medically directed or medically supervised by a physician in the performance of anesthesia services the current fee schedule amount of one-half of the amount for a physician's medical direction of the performance of such services, regardless of whether or not the CRNA is involved in the training of student nurse anesthetists in a single case or two concurrent cases.
 * Requires payment, however, of 100% of the fee schedule amount otherwise applicable for anesthesia services personally performed by a teaching CRNA alone when the teaching CRNA is not medically directed but is involved in the training of student nurse anesthetists in a single anesthesia case or two concurrent anesthesia cases, if: (1) the teaching CRNA is present during all critical or key portions of the anesthesia service or case involved; and (2) the teaching CRNA (or other CRNA or anesthesiologist with whom the CRNA has made special arrangements) is immediately available to furnish anesthesia services during the entire case.

Supporters

 * American Association of Nurse Anesthetists

Opponents

 * American Society of Anesthesiologists