HB 5488 Summary: Physician Assistants' Scope of Practice

• Expands physician assistants' authority to perform medical certifications and evaluations across 79 Connecticut statutes, including disability determinations, immunization requirements, and health assessments.

• Allows physician assistants to sign medical certifications for disability benefits, home care needs, workers' compensation cases, and educational/employment-related health documentation alongside physicians and advanced practice registered nurses.

• Updates healthcare insurance regulations to recognize physician assistants as qualified providers for certifying patient conditions for insurance benefits, including life settlement contracts and health coverage determinations.

• Modifies state benefit programs and housing regulations to permit physician assistants to provide required medical certifications for tax credits, heating assistance, jury duty exemptions, and rental housing protections.

• All changes effective October 1, 2020, establishing physician assistants as equivalent to physicians and advanced practice nurses for signing medical certifications in Connecticut state law.