{Frankfort, Kentucky}...Governor Steve Beshear is exempting nurse anesthetists from a federal requirement that they be supervised by a physician when administering anesthetics to patients, a move opposed by anesthesiologists. Beshear announced his decision Friday to opt out of the federal requirement, saying the change won't affect quality of care. The Kentucky Hospital Association supported the change, but the Kentucky Society of Anesthesiologists called on Beshear to reverse his decision, saying it threatens the safety of patients. 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.
