I am a physician where I work with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) on a regular basis. I have worked with CRNAs throughout my career and can personally attest to their competence and professionalism in the practice of anesthesia. House Bill 4359, sponsored by Representative Mary Whiteford, would enable Michigan hospitals and other practice environments to choose the anesthesia model that best meets the needs of their patients and communities. The bill would remove the physician supervision requirement for nurse anesthetists, thereby aligning Michigan with 42 other states (and the District of Columbia) that do not have such a requirement. In an overwhelming and bipartisan manner, the bill passed the Michigan House 82-25 on March 24th and the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee 7-3 on June 10th. Please join your House colleagues in supporting HB 4359. While some organizations representing the medical community have expressed their opposition to this legislation, those organizations do not speak for all physicians. I fully support this legislation as do many physicians and surgeons from across the state. Let me be clear. I do not want to supervise CRNAs – they are competent, safe, knowledgeable, licensed, insured professionals, and patients gain nothing from having me or any other physician supervise a CRNA. I fully trust the CRNAs with whom I work and can think of no reason they should not be able to practice to the full extent of their current license – to do what they do every day – without my signature. Substantial scientific and medical research that has found that nurse anesthesia services are equally safe in states that do not impose outdated supervision mandates. In addition to myself and many of my colleagues, HB 4359 supporters also include the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, the Michigan Nurses Association, and many other organizations and individuals representing safe healthcare providers. Your support of this legislation is crucial to physicians like me that rely on the cost effective, safe care that CRNAs provide for our patients. I wish to thank you for your commitment to building a quality health care system in the state of Michigan and respectfully request your continued support of nurse anesthesia services in Michigan. For the good health of our patients, and in support of a cost-effective solution to meet quality healthcare needs of our state, I again ask that you support House Bill 4359.

I am a physician where I work with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) on a regular basis. I have worked with CRNAs throughout my career and can personally attest to their competence and professionalism in the practice of anesthesia. House Bill 4359, sponsored by Representative Mary Whiteford, would enable Michigan hospitals and other practice environments to choose the anesthesia model that best meets the needs of their patients and communities. The bill would remove the physician supervision requirement for nurse anesthetists, thereby aligning Michigan with 42 other states (and the District of Columbia) that do not have such a requirement. In an overwhelming and bipartisan manner, the bill passed the Michigan House 82-25 on March 24th and the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee 7-3 on June 10th. Please join your House colleagues in supporting HB 4359. While some organizations representing the medical community have expressed their opposition to this legislation, those organizations do not speak for all physicians. I fully support this legislation as do many physicians and surgeons from across the state. Let me be clear. I do not want to supervise CRNAs – they are competent, safe, knowledgeable, licensed, insured professionals, and patients gain nothing from having me or any other physician supervise a CRNA. I fully trust the CRNAs with whom I work and can think of no reason they should not be able to practice to the full extent of their current license – to do what they do every day – without my signature. Substantial scientific and medical research that has found that nurse anesthesia services are equally safe in states that do not impose outdated supervision mandates. In addition to myself and many of my colleagues, HB 4359 supporters also include the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, the Michigan Nurses Association, and many other organizations and individuals representing safe healthcare providers. Your support of this legislation is crucial to physicians like me that rely on the cost effective, safe care that CRNAs provide for our patients. I wish to thank you for your commitment to building a quality health care system in the state of Michigan and respectfully request your continued support of nurse anesthesia services in Michigan. For the good health of our patients, and in support of a cost-effective solution to meet quality healthcare needs of our state, I ask that you support House Bill 4359.

I am a physician where I work with Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) on a regular basis. I have worked with CRNAs throughout my career and can personally attest to their competence and professionalism in the practice of anesthesia. House Bill 4359, sponsored by Representative Mary Whiteford, would enable Michigan hospitals and other practice environments to choose the anesthesia model that best meets the needs of their patients and communities. HB 4359 would remove the physician supervision requirement for nurse anesthetists, thereby aligning Michigan with 42 other states (and the District of Columbia) that do not have such a requirement. In an overwhelming and bipartisan manner, the bill passed the Michigan House 82-25 on March 24th and the Senate Health Policy and Human Services Committee 7-3 on June 10th. Please join your House colleagues in supporting HB 4359. While some organizations representing the medical community have expressed their opposition to this legislation, those organizations do not speak for all physicians. I fully support this legislation as do many physicians and surgeons from across the state. Let me be clear. I do not want to supervise CRNAs – they are competent, safe, knowledgeable, licensed, insured professionals, and patients gain nothing from having me or any other physician supervise a CRNA. I fully trust the CRNAs with whom I work and can think of no reason they should not be able to practice to the full extent of their current license – to do what they do every day – without my signature. Substantial scientific and medical research that has found that nurse anesthesia services are equally safe in states that do not impose outdated supervision mandates. In addition to myself and many of my colleagues, HB 4359 supporters also include the Michigan Health & Hospital Association, the Michigan Nurses Association, and many other organizations and individuals representing safe healthcare providers. Your support of this legislation is crucial to physicians like me that rely on the cost effective, safe care that CRNAs provide for our patients. I wish to thank you for your commitment to building a quality health care system in the state of Michigan and respectfully request your continued support of nurse anesthesia services in Michigan. For the good health of our patients, and in support of a cost-effective solution to meet quality healthcare needs of our state, I again ask that you support House Bill 4359.