Ratification of the PA Licensure Compact. (FE)

2. The ability for a PA to obtain a “compact privilege,” which allows a PA who satisfies certain criteria to practice as a PA to provide medical services and other licensed activity to a patient located in another member state (remote state) under the remote state's laws and regulations. The compact specifies a number of requirements in order for a PA to exercise a compact privilege, including holding a PA license in a member state, not having a felony or misdemeanor conviction, having had no revocation of a license or limitation or restriction on any license currently held due to an adverse action, and paying any fees and meeting any jurisprudence requirements that may be imposed by a remote state, though the bill does not impose any jurisprudence requirement. A remote state may, in accordance with that state's laws, take adverse action against a PA's compact privilege in the remote state and take any other necessary actions to protect the health and safety of its citizens. If the state in which a PA is licensed (home state) takes adverse action against a PA's license, the PA loses the compact privilege in all remote states until certain criteria are satisfied. A member state may not impose discipline against a PA's compact privilege or deny an application for a compact privilege in that member state for the individual's otherwise lawful practice in another state.

3. The ability of member states to issue subpoenas that are enforceable in other states provided, however, that subpoenas may not be issued by a member state to gather evidence of conduct in another state that is lawful in that other state for the purpose of taking adverse action against a compact privilege or application for a compact privilege in that member state.

4. The creation of a coordinated data and reporting system containing licensure, adverse action, and the reporting of the existence of significant investigative information on PAs and applicants denied a PA license. The compact requires all adverse actions to be reported to the administrator of the data system.

A member state must submit a uniform data set to the data system on all individuals to whom the compact is applicable as required by the rules of the commission.

5. Provisions regarding resolutions of disputes among member states and between member and nonmember states, including a process for termination of a state's membership in the compact if the state defaults on its obligations under the compact.

The compact becomes effective upon enactment by seven states. The compact provides that it may be amended upon enactment of an amendment by all member states. A state may withdraw from the compact by repealing the statute authorizing the compact, but the compact provides that a withdrawal does not take effect until 180 days after the enactment of that repeal.