STEP 1

Please use one of the below templates or similar wording for your email.

Email for Your Representative

SEND YOUR EMAIL TO:    rep-donovan@rilegislature.gov    and a copy to HousehealthandHumanServices@rilegislature.gov

SUGGESTION/OPTION 1

Subject:  Opposition to HB-7740

Dear Chairwoman Donovan,

I am a Physician Assistant working at (insert workplace).  I am writing to you today to respectfully request you and your committee oppose HB-7740. 

• ·       The draft legislation states that unless you are a CRNA or CRNA student, you “shall not administer agents that are primarily used and classified as general anesthetics for minimal, moderate, deep sedation, or general anesthesia.”  PAs, working collaboratively with RNs, routinely and safely provide minimal and moderate (“conscious”) sedation in many inpatient and outpatient settings. No one disputes that general anesthesia should be provided by CRNAs or anesthesiologists. However, there is a broad subset of clinical environments where mild to moderate sedation has been safely provided for years by trained providers without complications. 
• ·       This language directly impacts procedural areas as well as directly impacting critical care areas, emergency departments, and medical and surgical ICUs across the state of RI. 
• ·       It may limit patient access and could potentially require sending patients out of state for sedation‑assisted procedures such as colonoscopies, endoscopies, interventional radiology procedures, and pediatric imaging.
• ·       This bill will increase patient length of stay for inpatient units by increasing delays in obtaining procedures that require sedation since CRNAs and anesthesiologists are not always readily available for elective procedures.
• ·       May increase healthcare costs by now requiring anesthesiologists or CRNAs to provide sedation and care to a patient population that has been traditionally and safely managed by MDs, DOs, PAs, and NPs.
• ·       It restricts RNs from administering or titrating sedating medications on non-intubated patients in critical care areas, where that is exactly what these RNs are trained and credentialed to do.
• 
  
• ((Insert a few comments as to how this may impact you and your patients))

Thank you for your consideration and hopefully your opposition of HB-7740.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Your Address

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SUGGESTION/OPTION 2

Subject: Opposition to HB‑7740

Dear Chairwoman Donovan,

I am a Physician Assistant practicing at (insert workplace), and I am writing to respectfully urge you and the House Committee on Health and Human Services to oppose HB‑7740.

This legislation includes restrictive language stating that, unless you are a CRNA or CRNA student, you “shall not administer agents that are primarily used and classified as general anesthetics for minimal, moderate, deep sedation, or general anesthesia.”  This phrasing would inadvertently prohibit Physician Assistants and registered nurses from administering medications commonly used for minimal and moderate (“conscious”) sedation — a practice that has been safely conducted in Rhode Island and nationwide for decades.

• PAs, working collaboratively with RNs and physicians, routinely provide moderate sedation for procedures such as endoscopy, interventional radiology, and pediatric imaging.
• The proposed restriction would affect procedural areas, emergency departments, ICUs, and other inpatient settings.
• Limiting sedating agents to CRNAs and anesthesiologists would significantly reduce access to care, delay procedures, and increase patient length of stay.
• There are clear cost implications, as hospitals would now be required to rely on a more limited and higher‑cost workforce for procedures that have traditionally been safe and efficient under current practice standards.
• It would further restrict nursing scope of practice by forbidding RNs from administering or titrating sedating medications in critical care setting.

In my practice, these limitations would directly affect our ability to perform timely procedures and would cause unnecessary transfers and delays for our patients. (Insert brief personal example here.)

I appreciate your time and your commitment to supporting safe, evidence‑based practice in Rhode Island. Please oppose HB‑7740 to preserve patient access and continuity of care.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Your Address

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SUGGESTION/OPTION 3

Subject: Please Oppose HB‑7740 – Protect Patient Access

Dear Chairwoman Donovan,

My name is Your Name, and I am a Physician Assistant at (insert workplace). I’m reaching out to share my concern about HB‑7740 and to respectfully ask for your opposition to this bill.

The proposed legislation specifies that only CRNAs or CRNA students may administer agents classified as general anesthetics for minimal, moderate, deep sedation, or general anesthesia. This sweeping language would prevent Physician Assistants and Registered Nurses from providing the mild and moderate sedation that’s safely used every day for routine procedures.

In my role, sedation is often necessary for patients undergoing endoscopies, radiologic procedures, and other diagnostic tests. This bill could force hospitals to cancel or delay these procedures—potentially sending patients out of state and increasing both cost and distress. It would also prolong inpatient stays and compound wait times in critical care and emergency settings.

Restricting sedation in this way doesn’t improve safety—it limits access, raises costs, and removes trained professionals from care we’ve been providing effectively and compassionately for years. (Insert your personal patient example here.)

I hope you and your committee will consider these unintended consequences and stand against HB‑7740 to protect patient care and access across Rhode Island.

Thank you for your attention and for supporting the providers who serve our communities every day.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Your Address

STEP 2

Come to the State House and join your colleagues this Tuesday, April 14th at 4:30 pm

The hearing will take place in the House Lounge 

(2nd floor, Take a right and go down the hall when you get off the elevator)

Dress Code (Day to Day Professional) 

You will need to go through airport like security check

(minimize metal objects, no weapons or pepper spray in bags)

Most important part is signing in as OPPOSED when you get to the House Lounge

The RIAPA team will be there to guide you.

STEP 3

SHARE and encourage your fellow PAs to do the same

STEP 4

Consider Donating to the RIPA PAC to help us continue to advocate for you.

Please Donate to the PAC