HB2457 Summary: Anesthesiologist Assistants; Licensure

• Establishes licensure requirements for anesthesiologist assistants in Arizona under the Arizona Medical Board, including graduation from an accredited program and passing a certification examination.

• Requires anesthesiologist assistants to practice only under the supervision and direct delegation of a licensed anesthesiologist who holds unrestricted licensure and assumes legal responsibility for delegated tasks.

• Authorizes delegated duties including developing anesthesia care plans, obtaining patient history, performing airway interventions, administering anesthetics and vasoactive drugs, managing epidural and regional anesthesia, and supervising students in anesthesia education.

• Grants the Board authority to issue, deny, revoke, suspend, reinstate, or restrict licenses; issue temporary licenses (valid up to one year); renew licenses every two years; and investigate complaints against anesthesiologist assistants and supervising anesthesiologists.

• Classifies unauthorized practice as an anesthesiologist assistant without a license as a class 1 misdemeanor, with each violation constituting a separate offense.