Z-0096.2 _______________________________________________
SENATE BILL 5517
_______________________________________________
State of Washington 53rd Legislature 1993 Regular Session
By Senators Moyer, Fraser and Prentice; by request of Department of Health
Read first time 02/01/93. Referred to Committee on Health & Human Services.
AN ACT Relating to licensure of physician assistants; and amending RCW 18.71A.020, 18.71A.040, and 18.71A.050.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
Sec. 1. RCW 18.71A.020 and 1992 c 28 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
(1) The board shall
adopt rules fixing the qualifications ((and the educational and training
requirements)) for ((persons who may be employed)) licensure
as physician assistants ((or who may be enrolled in any physician assistant training
program)). The ((requirements)) qualifications shall include
completion of an accredited physician assistant training program approved by
the board and eligibility to take an examination approved by the board,
provided such examination tests subjects substantially equivalent to the
curriculum of an accredited physician assistant training program. Physician
assistants licensed by the board of medical examiners on ((June 7,
1990)) the effective date of this act, shall continue to be
licensed.
(2)(((a))) The
board shall adopt rules governing the extent to which((:
(i) Physician
assistant students may practice medicine during training; and
(ii))) physician assistants may practice after
successful completion of a physician assistant training course.
(((b))) Such
rules shall provide:
(((i))) (a)
That the practice of a physician assistant shall be limited to the performance
of those services for which he or she is trained; and
(((ii))) (b)
That each physician assistant shall practice medicine only ((under)) with
the supervision ((and control)) of a physician or physicians
licensed in this state, but such supervision ((and control)) shall not
be construed to necessarily require the personal presence of the supervising
physician or physicians at the place where services are rendered. The
board, in rules, may distinguish between the level of supervision required for:
(i) Physician assistants who have successfully completed an American medical association accredited and board-approved physician assistant program and have passed the initial national board examination administered by the national commission on certification of physician assistants; and
(ii) Physician assistants who have not successfully completed an American medical association accredited and board-approved physician assistant program and have not passed the initial national board examination administered by the national commission on certification of physician assistants. The board may authorize the use of alternative supervisors who are licensed either under chapter 18.57 or 18.71 RCW.
Sec. 2. RCW 18.71A.040 and 1990 c 196 s 4 are each amended to read as follows:
((No physician
practicing in this state shall employ or supervise a physician assistant
without the approval of the board.
Any physician
licensed in this state may apply to the board for permission to employ or
supervise a physician assistant.))
(1)(a) The application for licensure shall be ((jointly))
submitted by the ((physician and)) physician assistant and shall be
accompanied by a fee determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250.
The ((joint)) application shall ((detail the manner and extent to
which the physician assistant would practice and be supervised, shall))
detail the education, training, and experience of the physician assistant and
shall provide such other information in such form as the board may require.
(b) The board
may approve ((or reject such)), deny, or take other disciplinary
action upon the application((s)) as provided in the uniform
disciplinary act, chapter 18.130 RCW. ((In addition, the board may
modify the proposed practice of the physician assistant, and approve the
application as modified. No such approval shall extend for more than one year,
but approval once granted may)) The license shall be renewed on a
periodic basis as determined by the secretary under RCW 43.70.280, upon
payment of a fee determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and
submission of a completed renewal application, in addition to any late renewal
penalty fees as determined by the secretary as provided in RCW 43.70.250.
((Whenever it appears to the board that a physician assistant is practicing
in a manner inconsistent with the approval granted, the board may withdraw such
approval.)) In the event a hearing is requested upon the ((rejection))
denial of an application, upon the denial of a renewal, or upon
((the withdrawal of an approval)) disciplinary action against the
license, a hearing shall be conducted in accordance with chapter 18.130
RCW.
(2) No physician practicing in this state shall supervise a physician assistant without the approval of the board. Prior to commencing practice, the physician assistant and the supervising physician shall submit documentation approved by the board, delineating the working relationship with the supervising physician.
Sec. 3. RCW 18.71A.050 and 1990 c 196 s 5 are each amended to read as follows:
No
physician who supervises a licensed physician assistant in accordance
with and within the terms of any permission granted by the medical examining
board shall be considered as aiding and abetting an unlicensed person to
practice medicine: PROVIDED, HOWEVER, That any physician shall retain
professional and personal responsibility for any act which constitutes the
practice of medicine as defined in RCW ((18.71.010)) 18.71.011
when performed by a physician assistant ((in the physician's employ)).
--- END ---