Relates to the performance of medical services by physician assistants

Title of bill

An act to amend the education law, in relation to the employment and supervision of physician assistants

Purpose

To increase the number of physician assistants that may be supervised by a particular physician at any one time.

Summary of provisions

This bill amends Education Law § 6542 to clarify that four physician assistants (PAs) may be supervised by a particular physician at any one time in his or her private practice and that six PAs may be supervised at any time by a physician in a correctional facility.

Justification

Serious primary care shortages can be lessened to a significant degree by increasing the number of physician assistants providing primary care. Studies consistently document that access to high quality primary care improves health status and decreases the need for invasive and costly interventions. In addition, New York will have a significant increase in the number persons seeking primary care as a result of increased health coverage under the federal Affordable Care Act.

PAs must practice under the supervision of a physician, and New York law limits the number of PAs one physician may supervise: 4 PAs per physician in an office setting, 6 PAs per physician in a correctional setting, and 6 PAs per physician in a hospital setting.

This bill will codify a long-held interpretation of the Education Law by the Department of Health and will strengthen practices by allowing the maximum number of PAs authorized by statute to perform under the supervision of a physician at all times.

Legislative history

S.5060-A of 2014.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

January 1st next succeeding the date on which it shall become law.