Regulation of physician assistants, creating a Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board, extending the time limit for emergency rule procedures, providing an exemption from emergency rule procedures, granting rule-making authority, and providing a penalty. (FE)

The Medical Examining Board is composed of ten physicians and three public members and is authorized to promulgate rules establishing licensing and practice standards for PAs. However, the Podiatry Affiliated Credentialing Board has the authority to establish practice standards for PAs practicing under podiatrists.

This bill creates the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board attached to the Medical Examining Board. The new board is composed of eight PAs and one public member. In addition, the bill makes various changes to the licensure, regulation, and practice of PAs, including all of the following:

1. Instead of requiring that a PA practice under the supervision and direction of a physician, requires, subject to certain exceptions, that a PA who provides care to patients maintain and provide to the board upon request either 1) evidence that, pursuant to the PA's employment, there is a physician who is primarily responsible for the overall direction and management of the PA's professional activities and for assuring that the services provided by the PA are medically appropriate or 2) a written collaborative agreement with a physician that must describe the PA's scope of practice and include other information as required by the board. However, the bill provides that a PA is individually and independently responsible for the quality of the care he or she renders. The bill maintains the current requirements for PAs practicing under podiatrists and the authority of the Podiatry Affiliated Credentialing Board to establish practice standards for PAs practicing under podiatrists.

2. Defines a PA's practice similarly to the definition of the practice of medicine and surgery for purposes of physician licensure under current law. The bill also explicitly provides that a PA may prescribe, dispense, and administer drugs and may serve as a primary or specialty care provider. The bill requires a PA to limit his or her practice to the scope of his or her experience, education, and training, and retains a number of current law limitations on the practice of PAs.

3. Includes a number of additional provisions with respect to the obligations of PAs. These include a requirement that a PA have in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage when practicing, subject to certain exceptions and other provisions.

4. Establishes licensure requirements for PAs, which differ in a number of respects from the requirements under current law, including that PAs submit additional information, including an employment history, with a licensure application. Under the bill, the board must require continuing education for PAs.

Currently, PAs are not required to complete continuing education.

5. Specifies various grounds for professional discipline of a PA by the board and allows the board to impose professional discipline consistent with other professions.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.