[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 78 (Thursday, May 27, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1132]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       INTRODUCTION OF THE ANESTHESIA OUTCOMES STUDY ACT OF 1999

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 27, 1999

  Mr. STARK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with several of my colleagues 
from the Ways and Means Committee--Representative Matsui, 
Representative Lewis (GA), Representative Thurman, and Representative 
Becerra--to introduce the Anesthesia Outcomes Study Act of 1999.
  When the Health Care Financing Administration issued regulations to 
remove a Federal requirement of physician supervision of nurse 
anesthetists and instead leave that decision up to State rules, it 
threw a technical, medical debate into the realm of Congress.
  I have absolutely no idea who is right or wrong on the issue or 
whether there is a quality difference with or without physician 
supervision. Yet, we are being asked to choose sides and advocate for 
the nurse anesthetists or for the anesthesiologists on this matter. I 
am very uncomfortable with Congress making decisions about which type 
of health professional should provide which type of service.
  My colleagues and I advocate that this issue be resolved on a 
scientific, rather than political, basis. For that reason, we are 
introducing the Anesthesia Outcomes Study Act of 1999. This bill calls 
for the Secretary of HHS to conduct a study of mortality and adverse 
outcome rates of Medicare patients by providers of anesthesia services. 
In conducting such a study, the Secretary is to take into account the 
supervision, or lack of physician supervision, on such mortality and 
adverse outcome rates. This report is due to the Congress no later than 
June 30, 2000.
  Once again, our intent with this legislation is absolutely neutral. 
We are not medical experts and we do not know whether physician 
supervision is a factor in the provision of anesthesia services. This 
study will provide us with the facts that are lacking today so that the 
final decision on this matter is a medically appropriate decision. 
Congress should not take action without that data.

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