Raised Bill No. 1028 - Summary

• Expands physician assistants' scope of practice by adding them to numerous Connecticut statutes where physicians and advanced practice registered nurses are already authorized to perform medical functions.

• Physician assistants can now certify disability, provide medical examinations for various licensing and benefit programs, sign medical recommendations for immunization exemptions, and provide health-related certifications across multiple state statutory provisions.

• Makes physician assistants eligible to participate in collaborative drug therapy management agreements with pharmacists, subject to the same requirements and protocols as physicians and advanced practice registered nurses.

• Applies statewide effective October 1, 2021, amending 79 different sections of Connecticut's general statutes to recognize physician assistants' qualifications in healthcare certification and medical evaluation roles.