Protecting Patient Safety Standards in New York

The New York State Society of Anesthesiologists (NYSSA) strongly supports protecting the physician-led anesthesia care team model. Current state standards, established in the Health Code, require that anesthesia services be directed by a qualified physician responsible for patient care and safety. This team-based care model is consistent with nationally accepted best practices and protects patient lives. It must be confirmed and protected through statute.

NYSSA remains concerned about proposals that could weaken these standards, including expanding scope of practice without clearly defined physician oversight. Without a clear statewide supervision standard, anesthesia care standards may decline, particularly in underserved or geographically isolated areas. We cannot risk a two-tiered healthcare system where only certain patients receive care from a physician.

Expanding access to care requires thoughtful, long-term solutions. Research indicates that scope of practice changes alone do not significantly improve access to anesthesia services in rural areas. Instead, sustainable approaches to meet the increasing surgical demand include expanding physician anesthesiology residency programs to strengthen long-term workforce capacity and allowing licensure of Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs), a model successfully used in multiple states.

Protecting high standards in anesthesia care means ensuring that the appropriate training, expertise, and team structure are in place. Every patient deserves safe, high-quality care when it matters most.