The Florida Board of Dentistry has decided against expanding the scope of practice for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs).
The board unanimously voted to prohibit certified registered nurse anesthetists from sedating patients to a level deeper than the sedation permit held by dentists, according to a Tampa Bay Business Journal story.
Florida law requires a physician or dentist to administer or supervise this type of sedation.
The issue revolves around access and cost of care, taking into consideration the reimbursement for sedation based on what medical professional is involved, the story stated.
CRNAs and other healthcare professionals want to change Florida laws limiting the scopes of their practice, asserting they can provide more access to care and cut costs. But physicians, anesthesiologists, and other medical professionals maintain that patients' safety is at stake.
