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House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted:	May 9, 2024 09:11 AM
From:	Representative Arvind Venkat
To:	All House members
Subject:	Dual Recognition for Physician Assistants

Improving and preserving access to quality healthcare is one of the most vital challenges Pennsylvania faces today.  This is especially crucial in our hospitals and emergency departments, the places that accept and treat individuals most in need of care.  When we can reduce or remove administrative burdens that impede the provision of care, we must consider those changes.   Currently, physician assistants are licensed by the State Board of Medicine or the State Board of Osteopathic Medicine.  As such, the PA’s supervising physician must be licensed by the same board.  In hospitals, PAs often work with both allopathic physicians (MDs) and osteopathic physicians (DOs), forcing them to obtain a license from both medical boards if they want to have supervising physicians of both types. This increased administrative burden can easily be remedied.  That’s why I plan to introduce two bills that will change the definition of a primary supervising physician, allowing a physician assistant to work with either type of doctor regardless of licensing board. I believe that the physician-led PA team provides a sound approach to healthcare.  Making this small change allows our PAs and doctors to work seamlessly together without burdensome extra licenses. Please join me in sponsoring this legislation, which will enable our healthcare providers to focus on quality patient care and our hospitals to determine the most effective staffing arrangements for their needs.

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Document #1

Description:	This bill will amend the allopathic physician licensure act to allow physician assistants to have as a primary supervising physician either an allopathic or osteopathic physician.

Document #2

Description:	This bill will amend the osteopathic physician licensure act to allow physician assistants to have as a primary supervising physician either an osteopathic or allopathic physician.