Stop HB 1647 — CAAs are bad medicine for Virginia
Urgent action is needed in the General Assembly now!
Please contact the House Health and Human Services Committee today and tell them to oppose HB 1647, which allows CAAs to practice in Virginia. This legislation is expected to come before the committee in the coming days.
In short, HB 1647 licenses CAAs and is bad medicine for Virginia because:
- CAAs do NOT improve patient safety.
- CAAs do NOT reduce costs.
- CAAs do NOT improve access to anesthesia services.
Below we have a sample email and the email addresses of the Delegates that serve on the committee. Please contact them today and let them know that HB 1647 is bad medicine for Virginia. Don’t forget to customize your email!
Contact information for the members of the House Health and Human Services Committee:
- Del. Mark Sickles (Chair) – [email protected]
- Del. Kathy Tran (Vice Chair) – [email protected]
- Del. Patrick Hope – [email protected]
- Del. Marcia Price – [email protected]
- Del. Cliff Hayes Jr. – [email protected]
- Del. Rodney Willett – [email protected]
- Del. Charniele Herring – [email protected]
- Del. Irene Shin – [email protected]
- Del. Joshua Cole – [email protected]
- Del. Rozia Henson – [email protected]
- Del. Debra Gardner – [email protected]
- Del. JJ Singh – [email protected]
- Del. Robert Orrock – [email protected]
- Del. Keith Hodges – [email protected]
- Del. Wendell Walker – [email protected]
- Del. Mike Cherry – [email protected]
- Del. Phillip Scott – [email protected]
- Del. Otto Wachsmann – [email protected]
- Del. Kim Taylor – [email protected]
- Del. Baxter Ennis – [email protected]
- Del. Geary Higgins – [email protected]
- Del. David Owen – [email protected]
Sample subject line: Vote No on HB 1647
Sample email:
Dear Delegate,
I am writing to urge you to oppose House Bill 1647, legislation that would allow Certified Anesthesiologist Assistants (CAAs) to practice in Virginia. Licensing CAAs will not address the workforce shortage we’re currently experiencing and will not improve access to anesthesia care services.
In 2017, the Board of Health Professions conducted a study to investigate the feasibility of licensing CAAs in Virginia. After evaluating relevant education, training, examination, and continuing competency requirements, typical duties and functions, and the latest available anesthesia provider workforce data, the Board unanimously concluded that CAAs do not qualify for licensure in Virginia. The study also recommended that six criteria be met before allowing CAAs licensure in Virginia. Since that time, the criteria have not been met. Further, a 2024 report from the Joint Commission on Health Care again recommended studying the impact of bringing CAAs to Virginia before considering immediately licensing them.
Recommendations against licensing CAAs include:
- CAA students would increase competition for already limited training sites and slots needed by Virginia’s Anesthesiologist and Nurse Anesthetist students.
- CAAs can only practice with supervision from physician anesthesiologists, severely limiting the ability for CAAs to help lessen the workforce shortage.
- CAAs are unlikely to locate in underserved and rural areas, places where anesthesia care is needed most, due to a lack of physician anesthesiologists required to supervise them.
In short, legislation promoting CAAs is bad medicine for Virginia because:
- CAAs do NOT improve patient safety.
- CAAs do NOT reduce costs.
- CAAs do NOT improve access to anesthesia services.
Please oppose HB 1647, legislation that would fail to help Virginians access anesthesia care.
Sincerely,
[INSERT NAME, TITLE, AND LOCATION]
