House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda

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House of Representatives
Session of 2019 - 2020 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	October 21, 2019 04:19 PM
From:	Representative Curtis G. Sonney
To:	All House members
Subject:	Modernizing Physician Assistant Practices

In the near future, I will introduce legislation that would help Physician Assistants work and practice with increased efficiency in Pennsylvania. Physician Assistants are a critical piece of the healthcare team. Their education and training is in the medical model and provides both physicians and patients with an excellent resource for healthcare.

In 2013, as prime sponsor of Act 100 and 101, we tried to alleviate many of the problems with the Medical Boards and are still experiencing horrible backlogs with the written agreements. In order to permanently fix this critical problem that is forcing our best students out of state, I believe that it is most practical to join with 36 other states who have agreements filed and create an immediate path for qualified licensed Physician Assistants to practice.

Pennsylvania is one of the premier states for Physician Assistant education, but lags behind legislatively for practicing Pennsylvania Physician Assistants. With this modernization, Pennsylvania will encourage a diverse range of medical professionals across the healthcare delivery system. This legislation will allow for modernization for physician assistants to practice while maintaining their role under supervising physicians.

My legislation will do the following:

Place a Physician Assistant on the Medical Board and Osteopathic Board with a permanent seat;
Remove the requirement of a physician countersignature on 100% of patient files;
Allow a written agreement to be "filed" instead of "approved" by the Medical and Osteopathic Boards. This will allow Physician Assistants to immediately begin working instead of waiting 120 days or longer for the Medical Boards; and
Outline what supervision means, to ensure laws and regulations do not hinder the Physician, Physician Assistant, Patient relationship.

To accomplish the intent of the legislation we will need to amend both the Medical Practice Act and the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act. Therefore, we will be introducing two corresponding pieces of
legislation.

Please join me in co-sponsoring this legislation and help to modernize and advance the practice of Physician Assistants.

Document #1

Introduced as HB1998

Description:	*updates Osteopathic Medical Act
	View Attachment

Document #2

Introduced as HB1997

Description:	*updates Medical Practice Act
	View Attachment