PRIOR PRINTER'S NO. 1540 PRINTER'S NO. 1985
No. 1252 Session of 2007
INTRODUCED BY READSHAW, EACHUS, KORTZ, SIPTROTH, TANGRETTI,
THOMAS, WOJNAROSKI AND FABRIZIO, MAY 8, 2007
AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON PROFESSIONAL LICENSURE, HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, JUNE 19, 2007
AN ACT
1 Amending the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), entitled
2 "An act requiring the licensing of practitioners of
3 osteopathic medicine and surgery; regulating their practice;
4 providing for certain funds and penalties for violations and
5 repeals," further providing for physician assistants.
6 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
7 hereby enacts as follows:
8 Section 1. Section 10(g) of the act of October 5, 1978
9 (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice
10 Act, is amended AND THE SECTION IS AMENDED BY ADDING A <--
11 SUBSECTION to read:
12 Section 10. Licenses; exemptions; nonresident practitioners;
13 graduate students; biennial registration and
14 continuing medical education.
15 * * *
16 (g) The supervising physician shall file with the board an
17 application to utilize a physician assistant containing a
18 description of the manner in which the physician assistant will
19 assist the supervising physician in his practice, the method and
1 frequency of supervision and the geographic location of the
2 physician assistant. [In no instance may a physician supervise
3 more than two physician assistants at any time.] There shall be <--
4 no limit to the number of physician assistants for whom a
5 physician has responsibility or supervises under a collaborative
6 or written agreement. THERE SHALL BE NO MORE THAN FOUR PHYSICIAN <--
7 ASSISTANTS FOR WHOM A PHYSICIAN HAS RESPONSIBILITY OR SUPERVISES
8 PURSUANT TO A WRITTEN AGREEMENT AT ANY TIME. IN MEDICAL CARE
9 FACILITIES A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT MAY BE UNDER THE SUPERVISION
10 AND DIRECTION OF A PHYSICIAN OR PHYSICIAN GROUP PURSUANT TO A
11 WRITTEN AGREEMENT, PROVIDED THAT A PHYSICIAN SUPERVISES NO MORE
12 THAN FOUR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AT ANY TIME. A PHYSICIAN MAY
13 APPLY FOR A WAIVER UNDER THIS SECTION FOR GOOD CAUSE, AS
14 DETERMINED BY THE BOARD. In cases where a group of physicians
15 will supervise a physician assistant, the names of all
16 supervisory physicians shall be included on the application.
17 (G.1) IN MEDICAL CARE FACILITIES THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN OF <--
18 RECORD FOR A PARTICULAR PATIENT SHALL ACT AS THE PRIMARY
19 SUPERVISING PHYSICIAN FOR THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT WHILE THAT
20 PATIENT IS UNDER THE CARE OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN.
21 * * *
22 Section 2. The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine shall
23 promulgate regulations to implement the amendment OR ADDITION of <--
24 section 10(g) AND (G.1) of the act within 18 months of the <--
25 effective date of this act.
26 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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