FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) - Gov. Steve Beshear is exempting nurse anesthetists from a federal requirement that they be supervised by a physician when administering anesthetics to patients.
The move, opposed by anesthesiologists, would allow hospitals and surgery centers in Kentucky to use non-physicians for the task.
Beshear announced his decision Friday to opt out of the federal requirement, saying the change won't affect quality of care.
The Kentucky Association of Nurse Anesthetists says Kentucky is the 17th state to opt out in the 10 years since the federal government gave states this choice.
The Kentucky Hospital Association supported the change. But the Kentucky Society of Anesthesiologists called on Beshear to reverse his decision because the group says it threatens the safety of patients.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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