Effective November 1, 2012, Wisconsin Act 160 (Act 160) establishes a licensure requirement for anesthesiologist assistants (AAs).  Prior to Act 160, AAs practiced under delegated authority.  Act 160 also established the requirements for obtaining AA licensure, AA’s scope of practice, anesthesiologist supervision requirements as well as a Council on Anesthesiologist Assistants.  This announcement summarizes some of the key aspects of the new law that Wisconsin anesthesiology providers need to know. AA Scope of Practice Act 160 provides that an AA may assist an anesthesiologist in the delivery of medical care.  The medical care tasks that may be assigned by the supervising anesthesiologist, falling within the AA’s scope of practice, are the following: Developing and implementing an anesthesia care plan for the patient;Obtaining a comprehensive patient history and performing relevant elements of a physical exam;Pretesting and calibrating anesthesia delivery systems and obtaining and interpreting information from the systems and from monitors;Implementing medically accepted...