Physician Assistant Collaboration Requirements

The bill modifies the relationship between a physician assistant and a physician or podiatrist by removing the requirement that a physician assistant be supervised by a physician or podiatrist. Instead:

• A physician assistant who has completed fewer than 3,000 hours of post-graduate clinical practice experience or who is beginning practice in a new specialty must enter into a collaborative plan with a physician; and
• A physician assistant who has completed fewer than 3,000 hours of post-graduate clinical practice must enter into a collaborative plan with a podiatrist before practicing podiatry.

A physician assistant who has completed 3,000 or more practice hours or, for a physician assistant practicing a new specialty, has completed 2,000 practice hours in the new specialty and at least 3,000 total practice hours, is no longer required to maintain a collaborative plan and is instead required to consult with and refer to appropriate members of the physician assistant's health-care team based on a patient's condition; the physician assistant's education, experience, and competencies; and the standard of care. The bill specifies the requirements of the collaborative plan.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)