HB 2043 Summary

• Allows physician assistants with at least 8,000 hours of certified clinical practice to practice under "collaboration" rather than strict supervision, eliminating the requirement for a supervising physician agreement for experienced PAs.

• Requires physician assistants with less than 8,000 clinical practice hours to maintain a written supervision agreement describing their scope of practice with a supervising physician.

• Expands the scope of practice for physician assistants to include independently performing various medical services including prescribing controlled substances, minor surgery, and diagnostic procedures, provided they meet education, training, and experience requirements.

• Establishes a new "collaborating physician or entity" definition for healthcare institutions that employ experienced PAs without requiring supervision agreements, though collaboration, consultation, or referral must still occur as indicated by patient condition.

• Authorizes physician assistants to bill and receive direct payment for their professional services and grants the regulatory board one-year exemption from standard rulemaking requirements.