HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2917

BYRepresentatives Braddock, Schoon, Sprenkle and Wang

Changing provisions relating to physician assistants.

House Committe on Health Care

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (11)

      Signed by Representatives Braddock, Chair; Day, Vice Chair; Brooks, Ranking Republican Member; Cantwell, Chandler, Morris, Prentice, D. Sommers, Sprenkle, Vekich and Wolfe.

House Staff:John Welsh (786-7133)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE FEBRUARY 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Licensed physician's assistants are regulated by the Board of Medical Examiners to practice limited medicine after completing an approved training program.  The qualifications and training requirements are established by rule.

A physician must submit an application to the board to use the services of a physician's assistant.

Physician's assistants are not authorized to prescribe controlled substances.

Persons desiring to practice acupuncture may be licensed by the board as physician assistant acupuncturists.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  A licensed physician assistant is defined as a person who practices medicine to a limited extent only under the supervision of a physician and is academically and clinically prepared to perform diagnostic, therapeutic, preventative, and health maintenance services. Physician assistants must complete a training program approved by the Board of Medical Examiners and be eligible to take an approved examination on subjects substantially equivalent to the curriculum of an accredited physician assistant training program.

An application by a physician to employ a physician assistant must be submitted by both the physician and the physician assistant.

Physician assistants are included as practitioners with prescriptive authority for controlled substances.

The authority to license physician assistant acupuncturists is repealed, although those currently licensed may continue to practice if licensed as physician assistants.

Physician's assistants are now termed "physician assistants."

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  The substitute bill restores the existing prohibition of a physician assistant from performing podiatry.

Fiscal Note:      Requested January 30, 1990.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Jeff Larsen and David Overton, Washington Academy of Physicians Assistants.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The physician assistant law needs up-dating.  The examination standards need to be consistent with national standards. Physician assistants need authority to prescribe controlled substances on behalf of their supervising physician.  There is no need for maintaining the authority to license physician assistants because the state regulates acupuncturists under a distinct certification program.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.