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SCS/SB 1032 -Under current law, physicians must exercise control over a physician assistant working in the same office facility of the supervising physician. The assistant may make follow-up patient examinations in hospitals, nursing homes and correctional facilities. This act requires physician assistants to provide services where the supervising physician regularly practices medicine. The physician must oversee the activities of and accept responsibility for the medical services rendered by the assistant and shall at all times be available immediately for consultation, assistance, or intervention in person or via telecommunications. The supervising physician must be personally present for supervision for fifty percent of clinic hours in any clinic location that uses assistants. The supervising physician must be no further than thirty minutes from the practice location when not personally present. Physician assistants practicing in federally designated health shortage areas may only practice at locations where supervising physicians are physically present for at least 30 percent of clinical hours and otherwise, no further than fifty miles by road using the most direct route. All applicants for physician assistant licensure who complete their training after January 1, 2007, shall have a master's degree from a physician assistant program. Physicians may only oversee three full-time equivalent licensed physician assistants. This provision does not apply to agreements of hospital employees providing in-patient care services. Physician assistants must practice for one month under supervision with the supervising physician continuously present before practicing in a setting where a supervising physician is not continuously present. The supervising physician must document the completion of this one-month period. Physician assistants must inform patients of their status as assistants and inform them of the opportunity to be seen by the supervising physician. In supervision agreements, the primary site of practice for the supervising physician must be designated. The board shall randomly review the agreements and practice under the agreements. Physicians shall not be required, by contract, to act as supervising physician for any assistant and the physician shall have the right to refuse to enter into the agreements. Contracts shall not limit the physician’s ultimate authority over protocols or standing orders or in the delegation of the physician's authority to any assistant. This act is similar to HCS/HB 503 (2005). CHRIS HOGERTY
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