MA Central Processing Bill Moves Out of Public Health Committee After testimony from several central service technicians, the central processing bill was reported to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. South Dakota Confirms RN Circulator Requirement South Dakota puts patient safety first. Updates to regulations concerning facility licensing elevate South Dakota to one of the 24 states that have strong laws or regulations regarding the use of RN circulators, and one of over 30 states that address the role of circulating nurses. Massachusetts Central Service Bill Heard in Committee On September 17, 2015, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health heard testimony on Senate bill 1155, a bill that would require certification and continuing education for central service technicians working in Massachusetts hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. Nebraska Considering Registration for Surgical Technologists Under its Credentialing Review (407) Program, a process advisory to the legislature designed to assess the need for state regulation of health professionals, Nebraska considered licensing surgical assistants and surgical technologists. Arkansas Surgical Tech Bill Comes Back as Study Earlier this year an Arkansas bill which would have provided title protection for surgical technologists by authorizing the Arkansas Board of Medicine to formally register certain surgical technologists died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment. However, the bill has recently been introduced as an Interim study. Idaho BON Proposes New Continued Competency Requirements Idaho Board of Nursing issues proposed rules for license renewals after vacating a previous rulemaking in November 2014. The rules now address AORN’s concerns regarding CNOR and CRNFA certification. North Carolina Expands Workplace Violence Protections Last month the North Carolina House and Senate passed House bill 560, which expands existing workplace protections for emergency department personnel to all hospital personnel. The bill, which goes into effect on December 1, also makes it a Class I felony to assault causing injury hospital personnel and licensed healthcare providers who are providing health care services to a patient in a hospital. Tennessee Issues Rules for RNFA Certificate In May 2014, Tennessee passed legislation, SB1768/HB1656, clarifying who may practice as a registered nurse first assistant. The legislation authorized the Board of Nursing to issue a Registered Nurse First Assistant certificate to RNFAs who hold an RN license, are certified in perioperative nursing (CNOR), and who have completed an RNFA education program meeting AORN standards. Individuals without an RNFA certificate are prohibited from using the RNFA title. Provider Non-Discrimination Update for RNFAs On May 26, 2015, the U.S. Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services issued an updated Frequently Asked Question addressing the provider non-discrimination language in Section 2706(a) of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The new FAQ offers little reassurance to providers that they must be included in state health plans, and it protects insurers acting in good faith from any enforcement action. Surgical Technologist Certification Bill Passes in Oregon On June 11, 2015 Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed House Bill 2876, which prohibits hospitals and ambulatory surgery facilities from allowing persons without certain qualifications to function as surgical technologists in their facilities. The bill goes into effect July 1, 2016. There is an exception for facilities which operate in rural or medically underserved communities. The effective date for those facilities is July 1, 2017. Connecticut Central Service Certification Bill Passes On May 26, 2015, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed into law Public Act 15-11, a central service technician certification bill. Connecticut is the third state to require the certification of central service technicians. AORN Provides Comments to VA Board of Nursing Recently, the Virginia Board of Nursing sought comments on a Guidance Document, “Role of the Registered Nurse in Procedural Sedation." Several factors contributed to the Board appointing a committee to develop this guidance, including frequent inquiries seeking Board direction related to procedural sedation, requested recent review of Guidance Document #90-5 (Administration of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents for Conscious Sedation), and the fact that the Board is currently in the process of examining its guidance documents for necessary revisions. RNFA Reimbursement Bill Passes New York Senate S1233, sponsored by Senator Little, would require private payers in New York to provide reimbursement for registered nurse first assistants certified in operating room nursing for surgical first assistant services if the insurance policy otherwise provides reimbursement for surgical first assistant services. On May 20th, the bill passed out of the Senate 58-0 and was sent to the Assembly. New York Senate RNFA Reimbursement Bill Moves to Senate Floor S1233, sponsored by Senator Little, would require private payers in New York to provide reimbursement for registered nurse first assistants certified in operating room nursing for surgical first assistant services if the insurance policy otherwise provides reimbursement for surgical first assistant services. The bill cleared a major hurdle the first week of May when it passed out of the Senate Finance Committee and moved to the Senate Floor. Massachusetts Central Service Bill Reintroduced On April 15, 2015, Massachusetts Senator Anne Gobi introduced a bill that would require certification and continuing education for central service technicians working in Massachusetts hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers. Arkansas Surgical Tech Bill Dies A bill that would have provided title protection for surgical technologists by authorizing the Arkansas Board of Medicine to formally register certain surgical technologists failed to move in Arkansas’s 2015 legislative session. RN Circulator Legislation Introduced in North Carolina Senator Stan Bingham introduced legislation on March 4, 2015 to enhance patient safety in North Carolina operating rooms. AORN Comments On WA Surgical Technologist Bill Currently, surgical technologists in Washington are required to register with the State, but there are no accompanying educational requirements. Share
