ME LD2088

Eliminates the requirement for physician associates to have a practice agreement with an active physician when serving as the principal clinical provider in a practice without a physician

Changes physician consultation from mandatory ("shall") to optional ("may") for physician associates when treating patients

Removes the requirement that a physician must be accessible to the physician associate at all times for consultation purposes

Designated as emergency legislation to take effect immediately upon approval, citing shortages of medical providers in rural areas and potential eligibility for federal rural health care grants