THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1252 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, EACHUS, KORTZ, SIPTROTH, TANGRETTI,
THOMAS, WOJNAROSKI, FABRIZIO AND CALTAGIRONE, MAY 8, 2007
SENATOR ARMSTRONG, APPROPRIATIONS, IN SENATE, RE-REPORTED AS
AMENDED, JULY 10, 2007
AN ACT
Amending the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), entitled "An act requiring the licensing of practitioners of osteopathic medicine and surgery; regulating their practice; providing for certain funds and penalties for violations an repeals," further providing for physician assistants.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 10(g) of the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act, is amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to read:
Section 10. Licenses; exemptions; nonresident practitioners; graduate students; biennial registration and continuing medical education.
(g) The supervising physician shall file with the board an application to utilize a physician assistant containing a description of the manner in which the physician assistant will assist the supervising physician in his practice, the method and frequency of supervision and the geographic location of the physician assistant. [In no instance may a physician supervise more than two physician assistants at any time.] There shall be no more than four physician assistants for whom a physician has responsibility or supervises pursuant to a written agreement at any time. In medical care facilities a physician assistant may HEALTH CARE FACILITIES LICENSED UNDER THE ACT OF JULY 19, 1979 (P.L.130, NO.48), KNOWN AS THE "HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ACT," A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT SHALL be under the supervision and direction of a physician or physician group pursuant to a written agreement, provided that a physician supervises no more than four physician assistants at any time. A physician may apply for a waiver TO EMPLOY OR SUPERVISE MORE THAN FOUR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AT ANY TIME under this section for good cause, as determined by the board. In cases where a group of physicians will supervise a physician assistant, the names of all supervisory physicians shall be included on the application.
(g.1) In medical care facilities HEALTH CARE FACILITIES LICENSED UNDER THE "HEALTH CARE FACILITIES ACT," the attending physician of record for a particular patient shall act as the primary supervising physician for the physician assistant while that patient is under the care of the attending physician.
Section 2. The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine shall promulgate regulations to implement the amendment or addition of section 10(g) and (g.1) of the act within 18 months of the effective date of this act.
Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
August 2007