The Issues
Oklahoma Bill
Protect Oklahoma’s Access to Healthcare
Help support access to vital surgical services and obstetrical care in our state and VOTE YES on SB 801.
Oklahoma ranks in the bottom 3 for health outcomes nationwide. This is not an acceptable standard for our communities. In order to make Oklahoma a Top 10 state, we need to support Senate Bill 801 and improve the accessibility of health care statewide. Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are Advanced Practice Nurses who administer Anesthesia for Surgery and Obstetrics for the majority of Oklahomans. CRNAs are often the only anesthesia providers in rural hospitals, allowing families to receive the care they need without having to travel to expensive medical facilities in distant cities. Oklahoma’s laws need to be a reflection of the practices taking place everyday in hospitals across the state. SB 801 will improve and protect the access Oklahoma families desperately need as they search for affordable, quality healthcare when and where they need it.
10 Things You Need to Know
- 57 counties in Oklahoma DO NOT HAVE MD Anesthesiologists! MDAs are currently only found in 20 counties. To be a top 10 state, we need to take care of all 77 OK counties.
- CRNAs have safely been providing anesthesia for over 150 years.
- CRNAs want to remove physician supervision from their practice and change just one word in the Nurse Practice Act to “collaboration.” This will improve the definition of our relationship with healthcare providers we work with.
- CRNAs bring access to all of Oklahoma and are found in over 60% of Oklahoma counties.
- 40 other states already have this law in place as well as the US Military.
- All states in the TOP 10 in healthcare do not require supervision of CRNA Practice.
- There is a direct correlation between healthcare access and healthcare outcomes.
- CRNAs bring access to surgical and obstetrical care by providing anesthesia to
Oklahoma citizens. - CRNAs are the main providers of anesthesia for Rural Oklahoma in over 85%
of hospitals. - Nurse anesthesia care is 25% more cost-effective than the next, least costly
anesthesia delivery model.
Vote YES on SB 801 for greater access to healthcare in Oklahoma.