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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 miles by road using the most direct route unless such distance creates an impediment to effective intervention and supervision of patient care. Physician assistants practicing in federally designated health shortage areas may only practice at locations where supervising physicians are 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. 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. This act is similar to HCS/HB 503 (2005). CHRIS HOGERTY
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