SB 697

Bill Subjects

Abstract

The Physician Assistant Practice Act provides for licensure and regulation of physician assistants by the Physician Assistant Board, which is within the jurisdiction of the Medical Board of California. The act authorizes a physician assistant to perform medical services as set forth by regulations and the act and when those services are rendered under the supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon. The act requires the Physician Assistant Board to, among other things, make recommendations to the Medical Board of California concerning the formulation of guidelines for the consideration and approval of applications by licensed physicians to supervise physician assistants. The act prohibits a physician and surgeon from supervising more than 4 physician assistants at any one time. The act requires the medical record to identify the physician and surgeon who is responsible for the supervision of the physician assistant. The act requires the supervising physician and surgeon to be physically available to the physician assistant for consultation when that assistance is rendered. The act requires the physician assistant and the supervising physician and surgeon to establish written guidelines for adequate supervision, and authorizes the supervising physician and surgeon to satisfy this requirement by adopting protocols for some or all of the tasks performed by the physician assistant, as provided. The act additionally authorizes a delegation of services agreement to authorize a physician assistant to order durable medical equipment, to approve, sign, modify, or add to a plan of treatment or plan of care for individuals receiving home health services or personal care services, or to certify disability, as provided. This bill would remove the requirement that the Physician Assistant Board make recommendations to the Medical Board of California concerning the formulation of guidelines for the consideration and approval of applications by licensed physicians and surgeons to supervise physician assistants. The bill would remove the requirements that the medical record identify the responsible supervising physician and surgeon and that those written guidelines for adequate supervision be established. The bill would instead authorize a physician assistant to perform medical services authorized by the act as amended by this bill if certain requirements are met, including that the medical services are rendered pursuant to a practice agreement, as defined, and the physician assistant is competent to perform the medical services. The bill would also require a practice agreement between a physician assistant and a physician and surgeon to meet specified requirements, and would require a practice agreement to establish policies and procedures to identify a physician and surgeon supervising a physician assistant rendering services in a general acute care hospital. The act authorizes a physician assistant, under the supervision of a physician and surgeon, to administer or provide medication to a patient, or transmit orally, or in writing on a patient's record or in a drug order, an order to a person who may lawfully furnish the medication or medical device, subject to specified requirements. This bill would revise and recast these provisions to, among other related changes, authorize a physician assistant to furnish or order a drug or device subject to specified requirements, including that the furnishing or ordering be in accordance with the practice agreement and consistent with the physician assistant's educational preparation or for which clinical competency has been established and maintained, and that the physician and surgeon be available by telephone or other electronic communication method at the time the physician assistant examines the patient. The bill would also authorize the physician assistant to furnish or order Schedule II or III controlled substances in accordance with the practice agreement or a patient-specific order approved by the treating or supervising physician and surgeon. The act defines various terms for its purposes. This bill would revise and change the definitions as applicable to carry out the bill's provisions. The bill would provide that any reference to "delegation of services agreement" in any other law means "practice agreement," as defined by the bill. The bill would provide that "supervision," as specified by the bill, does not require the supervising physician and surgeon to be physically present, but does require adequate supervision as agreed to in the practice agreement and does require that the physician and surgeon be available by telephone or other electronic communication method at the time the physician assistant examines the patient. The bill would prohibit this provision from being construed as prohibiting the board from requiring the physical presence of a physician and surgeon as a term or condition of a PA's reinstatement, probation, or imposing discipline. The bill would also make various conforming changes. The act makes a violation of specified provisions punishable as a misdemeanor. By revising and recasting the provisions of the act, the bill would change the definition of that crime and would, therefore, result in a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.