Anesthesiology Assistant (AA) - JE Part B

An Anesthesia Assistant (AA) is a specially trained, health professional who participates in the care of the stable surgical patient during general, regional, or conscious sedation anesthesia through medical directives under the supervision of the anesthesiologist.

• AAs are permitted by State law to administer anesthesia
• AAs have successfully completed a 6-year program for anesthesiology assistants
  • 2 years consists of specialized academic and clinical training in anesthesia
  • Specialty code 32
  • 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 410.69 (b)
• Operate within the scope of practice for their state.
• May submit claims to Medicare directly for their services or have payment made to an employer or an entity under which they have a contract. This could be a hospital, physician or ambulatory surgical center.

AAs usually work in hospitals under the direction of a licensed Anesthesiologist and exclusively within the Anesthesia Care Team environment as described by the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA).

Locum Tenens arrangements do not apply to CRNAs and AAs.