PRINTER'S NO. 88
No. 86 Session of 1975
INTRODUCED BY MRS. FAWCETT, MESSRS. HILL, HOPKINS, SHANE,
MISS SIRIANNI, MESSRS. POLITE, MEBUS, YOHN, D. S. HAYES,
MRS. CRAWFORD, MESSRS. McCLATCHY, McGINNIS, PYLES, REED AND
DORR, JANUARY 27, 1975
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE,
JANUARY 27, 1975
AN ACT
1 Relating to the assistance in the practice of medicine and
2 osteopathic medicine by physicians' assistants; providing for
3 certification of physicians' assistants and programs for
4 training; and prescribing fees and penalties.
5 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
6 hereby enacts as follows:
7 Section 1. Short Title.--This act shall be known and may be
8 cited as the "Physicians' Assistants Act."
9 Section 2. Definitions.--As used in this act, the following
10 terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:
11 "Certification" means the certification of individuals by
12 either the State Board of Medical Education and Licensure or the
13 State Board of Osteopathic Examiners to serve as physicians'
14 assistants. It shall also mean the approval of programs by the
15 respective boards for the training and education of physicians'
16 assistants.
17 "Physician" means a practitioner of medicine licensed by the
1 State Board of Medical Education and Licensure or the State
2 Board of Osteopathic Examiners.
3 "Physician's assistant" means a person certified by the State
4 Board of Medical Education and Licensure to assist a physician
5 or certified by the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners to
6 assist an osteopathic physician under the supervision and
7 direction of the physician.
8 "Proficiency examination" means any examination approved for
9 the National certification of physicians' assistants by the
10 National Commission on Certification of Physicians' Assistants.
11 "Program" means an approved program for training and
12 education of physicians' assistants. The program shall be
13 certified by the State Board of Medical Education and Licensure
14 and the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners.
15 Section 3. Certification of Training and Educational
16 Programs.--Requirements for the certification of training and
17 educational programs for physicians' assistants shall be
18 formulated by the State Board of Medical Education and Licensure
19 in accordance with the accreditation criteria established by the
20 Council of Medical Education of the American Medical Association
21 or by the Board of Osteopathic Examiners in accordance with the
22 American Osteopathic Association.
23 Section 4. Certification of Physicians' Assistants.--(a) A
24 candidate for certification must furnish proof to either the
25 Board of Medical Education and Licensure or the Board of
26 Osteopathic Examiners that he has completed the requirement for
27 a high school diploma or its equivalent as determined by the
28 Department of Education.
29 (b) The Board of Medical Education and Licensure or the
30 Board of Osteopathic Examiners shall certify physicians'
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1 assistants. The appropriate board may grant certification to
2 applicants who have fulfilled either of the following criteria:
3 (1) Satisfactory performance or the proficiency examination
4 as determined by the respective board.
5 (2) Satisfactory completion of an approved certified program
6 for the training and education of physicians' assistants.
7 (c) Certification of physicians' assistants shall be subject
8 to biennial renewal by the appropriate board.
9 (d) The State Board of Medical Education and Licensure or
10 the State Board of Osteopathic Examiners may grant provisional
11 certification under the following conditions:
12 (1) The applicant shall be eligible to take the proficiency
13 examination.
14 (2) The application shall include a written request from the
15 applicant's employing physician.
16 (3) The period of provisional certification may not extend
17 beyond 12 consecutive months.
18 Section 5. Procedures for Application to Supervise a
19 Physician's Assistant.--(a) The physician must file with the
20 appropriate board his proposed utilization of his assistant. No
21 physician may supervise more than two physicians' assistants at
22 any one time. The physician's assistant must be certified by the
23 Board of Medical Education and Licensure or the Board of
24 Osteopathic Examiners.
25 (b) The respective board shall approve such applications as
26 meet the established criteria prescribed by this act and such
27 additional regulations the board feels are necessary to
28 implement the provisions of this act.
29 (c) Nothing in this act shall be construed to permit a
30 certified physician's assistant to practice medicine without the
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1 supervision and direction of a licensed physician approved by
2 the appropriate board.
3 (d) This act shall not be construed to prohibit the
4 performance by the physician's assistant of any service within
5 his skills, which is delegated by the supervising physician, and
6 which forms a usual component of that physician's scope of
7 practice.
8 Section 6. Fees.--(a) A fee of $10 shall be charged for each
9 initial certification and biennial renewal of certificates for
10 physicians' assistants.
11 (b) A fee of $25 shall be charged for each application by a
12 physician to supervise a physician's assistant.
13 (c) A fee of $100 shall be charged for each institution
14 seeking approval of a program for the education and training of
15 physicians' assistants.
16 (d) Fees shall accompany the applications to the appropriate
17 board and shall be paid into the State Treasury.
18 Section 7. Unlawful Conduct and Penalties.--(a) On and after
19 the effective date of this act, it shall be unlawful for any
20 person to practice as a physician's assistant, other than
21 physicians, unless certified and approved by the Board of
22 Medical Education and Licensure or the Board of Osteopathic
23 Examiners.
24 (b) Physicians' assistants who practice while not under the
25 supervision and direction of the approved physician shall
26 forfeit their privilege to certification.
27 (c) A person who violates subsection (a) or a physician's
28 assistant who practices while not under the supervision and
29 direction of the approved physician shall be guilty of a
30 misdemeanor of the third degree.
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1 Section 8. Effective Date.--This act shall take effect June
2 30, 1976.
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