Amendment #7 to H3872

Reassignment Reciprocity

Representatives Hawkins of Attleboro, Barrows of Mansfield and Howitt of Seekonk move to amend the bill, as amended, by adding the following section:

SECTION XX. Notwithstanding section 9E of chapter 112 of the General Laws or any other general or special law to the contrary, employers of physician assistants in good standing may designate a new supervising physician for any physician assistant as necessary to maximize health care provider availability and to respond to increased healthcare needs during the public health emergency declared by the governor on May 28, 2021. A newly designated supervising physician and re-assigned physician assistant shall not be required to prepare and sign prescriptive practice or scope of practice guidelines for any reassignment; provided, however, that the employer of a physician assistant shall maintain a record of; (i) the name and scope of practice of the newly designated supervising physician; (ii) the newly designated supervising physician’s ascent to the supervisory role; and (iii) the dates during which the designation applies. The prescriptive practice and scope of practice of a re-assigned physician assistant shall be within the: (i) competence of the physician assistant, as determined by the newly designated supervising physician; and (ii) scope of services for which the newly designated supervising physician can provide adequate supervision to ensure that accepted standards of medical practice are followed. For purposes of this section, “in good standing” shall include a license that is subject to probation or non-disciplinary conditions, but shall not include a license that is revoked, canceled, surrendered, suspended, or subject to disciplinary restrictions.

SECTION XXA. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings unless the context requires otherwise:

“License”, a license, registration, certificate, or authorization.

“In good standing” a license that is current; provided, however, that “in good standing” may include a license that is subject to probation or non-disciplinary conditions but shall not include a license that is revoked, canceled, surrendered, suspended, or subject to disciplinary restrictions.

“Health care providers”, registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, advanced practice registered nurses, dentists, dental hygienists, dental assistants, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nursing home administrators, physician assistants, respiratory therapists, perfusionists, genetic counselors, community health workers, emergency medical technicians, social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, licensed mental health counselors, rehabilitation counselors, applied behavior analysts, assistant behavior analysts, licensed school psychologists, licensed alcohol and drug counselors, radiologic technologists, radiologist assistants, and nuclear medicine advanced associates.

(b) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, health care providers who are licensed in another state who present to the corresponding licensing authority in the commonwealth verification that such license is in good standing in the state where it was issued shall be issued a corresponding license in the commonwealth that shall remain valid until the termination of the public health emergency declared by the governor on May 28, 2021, or April 1, 2022, whichever is later. All health care providers licensed under this subsection may provide services within the scope of practice authorized by the license in such profession, in-person in the commonwealth, and across state lines into the commonwealth using telemedicine where appropriate.

(c) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, physicians who are licensed in another state who present to the board of registration in medicine a state license verification form demonstrating to the satisfaction of the board that they are in good standing in the other state shall be issued an emergency license in the commonwealth that shall remain valid until the termination of the public health emergency declared by the governor on May 28, 2021, or April 1, 2022, whichever is later. All physicians licensed under this subsection may provide services in-person in the commonwealth and across state lines into the commonwealth using telemedicine where appropriate.