WI SB435

Replaces the term "physician assistant" with "physician associate" throughout Wisconsin statutes and renames the credentialing board to "Physician Associate Affiliated Credentialing Board"

Allows physician associates to practice independently without physician supervision after completing 7,680 hours of clinical practice under physician oversight or a collaborative agreement, while maintaining documentation of professional relationships and participation in quality assurance programs

Requires physician associates providing invasive pain syndrome treatments to maintain physician collaboration, unless practicing in a hospital or hospital-associated clinic, or holding hospital privileges for such treatments

Adds independently practicing physician associates as mandatory participants in the Injured Patients and Families Compensation Fund, which provides excess medical malpractice coverage for health care providers

Takes effect on the first day of the 10th month after publication, with emergency rulemaking authority granted immediately upon publication