A patient registers for treatment at a mobile dental and medical clinic last year. Some states have recently adopted policies that make it easier for physician assistants to practice and care for more patients. (Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Alabama, Maine and Virginia recently adopted policies that make it easier for physician assistants to practice and care for more patients.
Alabama is the 24th state to adopt the PA Licensure Compact, an agreement between states that allows these physicians to practice across state lines. The compact can facilitate remove administrative hurdles for physician assistants, making it easier for them to fill gaps in rural and underserved communities where there aren’t enough primary care professionals, advocates say.
Alabama has about 1,400 physician assistants. The bill, sponsored by Republican Rep. Paul Lee, received unanimous support in both the House and Senate.
Ten states — Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island — have legislation pending that would allow them to join the compact, according to the American Academy of Physician Associates.
Virginia enacted a law Last week it was decided that physician assistants with three years of full-time clinical experience can practice without a medical practice agreement.
Earlier this month, Maine’s Democratic Gov. Janet Mills signed a law updating state guidelines to remove the requirement for PAs to consult and have a practice Agreements with doctors. The state has about 1,100 PAs.
The American Medical Association, which represents doctors, opposes such laws. The group’s guidelines attitude is that PAs should practice under the direction and supervision of a physician.
According to the American Academy of Physician Associates, Maine joined seven other states in eliminating the oversight agreement requirement: Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@stateline.org.
This story was originally produced by State borderwhich is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that includes West Virginia Watch, and is a 501c(3) public charity supported by grants and a coalition of donors.
