AK SB89

Expands physician assistant (PA) scope of practice to include diagnosing, treating, prescribing schedule II-V controlled substances, performing limited sonography, pronouncing death, and dispensing drugs when pharmacy services are unavailable

Replaces mandatory physician supervision with a collaborative agreement requirement, though PAs may practice without a collaborative agreement at licensed health care facilities, federally qualified health centers, tribal health facilities, or military/veterans' facilities

Establishes new PA licensing qualifications requiring graduation from an accredited PA program, current National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants certification, and passing the national certifying examination

Prohibits health insurers from imposing practice, education, or collaboration requirements on PAs that are more restrictive than state law in contracts with health care providers

Removes "direct supervision" language from definitions of "attending physician" under workers' compensation law and "health care provider" under correctional facility statutes