HCS HB 497 -- PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS (Sater)

COMMITTEE OF ORIGIN:  Special Committee on Professional
Registration and Licensing

This substitute expands the definition of "supervision" of
physician assistants to allow supervising physicians to be
available via telecommunication for consultation, assistance, or
intervention.  Supervising physicians must be present a minimum
of 66% of the clinic's hours for practice supervision and
collaboration when utilizing physician assistants, and physician
assistants must practice within 30 miles of the supervising
physician.

The Advisory Commission on Physician Assistants is authorized to
create a waiver mechanism by which an individual physician and a
physician assistant together may apply to the State Board of
Registration for the Healing Arts for alternate amounts of
on-site supervision.  After receiving a waiver, the physician
assistant will be allowed to conduct unsupervised practice up to
50 miles from the supervising physician in a designated health
professional shortage area.

Prior to allowing a physician assistant to practice without the
physician being physically present, the physician assistant will
practice for one month with continuous physician supervision.
After January 1, 2008, a physician assistant applicant must have
a master's degree in a health or medical science related field.

The substitute also voids and makes it against public policy to
require any physician to enter into any contract or other
agreement to act as a supervising physician for any physician
assistant.  A physician has the right to refuse to act as a
supervising physician, and no contract will limit the supervising
physician's ultimate authority over any protocols or standing
orders.

Except in a hospital setting, a physician cannot supervise more
than three full-time physician assistants.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2008, FY 2009, and
FY 2010.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:19 am