Amendment ID: S2467-17-R1

Redraft Amendment 17

Relative to physicians assistants

Ms. Chandler moves to amend the bill by inserting after section 23 the following 2 sections:-

"SECTION 23A. 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, cancelled, surrendered, suspended or subject to disciplinary restrictions.

SECTION 23B. Section 23A is hereby repealed.; and

by inserting after section 33 the following section:-

SECTION 33A. Section 23B shall take effect on April 1, 2022.”.