Pennsylvania State of Emergency Declaration

Preliminary Announcement Regarding PA Regulatory Relief

After thorough review, the Pennsylvania Department of State determined that Physician Assistants that practice under the Pennsylvania Board of Medicine do not require a waiver pertaining to written agreements and may render care consistent with relevant standards. This allowance is due to an emergency medical services clause in the Board of Medicine regulations. The emergency service clause permits licensed physician assistants to respond to a need for medical care created by a declared state of emergency by rendering care consistent with relevant standards of care. The clause is under section 18.162 of the Board of Medicine regulations and specifically states as follows:

“A physician assistant licensed in this Commonwealth or licensed or authorized to practice in any other state who is responding to a need for medical care created by a declared state of emergency or a state or local disaster (not to be defined as an emergency situation which occurs in the place of one’s employment) may render care consistent with relevant standards of care.”

Physician Assistants practicing under the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine require a suspension of the requirements pertaining to written agreements, which must be issued by the Governor. The Department crafted this request and submitted it for approval to the Governor’s Office on 3/20/20. That approval is pending. We hope to hear something in the next few days.

A formal announcement will be posted on the Department of State website under the newly created section regarding regulatory relief. It can be found at  https://www.dos.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx

Stay tuned for further information as it becomes available. Thanks to all PAs for their patience in this complicated emergency regulatory process. Also, thanks to you and all health care providers for your tireless efforts and dedication to the citizens of Pennsylvania.