BILL REQ. #:  H-3422.1 

Read first time 01/11/12.   Referred to Committee on Health Care & Wellness.

     AN ACT Relating to physician assistants; amending RCW 18.57A.030, 18.57A.040, 18.57A.080, 18.71A.030, and 18.71A.090; reenacting and amending RCW 18.71A.040; and repealing RCW 18.71A.045.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 18.57A.030 and 1993 c 28 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     An osteopathic physician assistant as defined in this chapter may practice osteopathic medicine in this state only ((with the approval of the practice arrangement plan by the board and only to the extent permitted by the board)) when supervised by a licensed osteopathic physician and only after a delegation agreement has been completed and signed by both the physician assistant and one or more supervising physicians. An osteopathic physician assistant who has received a license but who ((has not received board approval of the practice arrangement plan under RCW 18.57A.040)) does not have a delegation agreement with a supervising osteopathic physician may not practice. An osteopathic physician assistant shall be subject to discipline by the board under the provisions of chapter 18.130 RCW.

Sec. 2   RCW 18.57A.040 and 1993 c 28 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) No osteopathic physician assistant practicing in this state shall be employed or supervised by an osteopathic physician or physician group without the approval of the board.
     (2) Prior to commencing practice, an osteopathic physician assistant licensed in this state shall ((apply to the board for permission to be employed or supervised by an osteopathic physician or physician group. The practice arrangement plan shall be jointly submitted by the osteopathic physician or physician group and osteopathic physician assistant. The secretary may charge a fee as provided in RCW 43.70.250 to recover the cost for the plan review. The practice arrangement plan)) enter into a delegation agreement with one or more supervising osteopathic physicians. The delegation agreement shall delineate the manner and extent to which the physician assistant would practice and be supervised. The delegation agreement must be kept on file at the practice and made available to the board or its representative upon request. Whenever an osteopathic physician assistant is practicing in a manner inconsistent with the ((approved practice arrangement plan)) delegation agreement, the board may take disciplinary action under chapter 18.130 RCW.
     (3) An osteopathic physician may enter into delegation agreements with multiple osteopathic physician assistants. The board may not limit the number of delegation agreements into which an osteopathic physician may enter.

Sec. 3   RCW 18.57A.080 and 2007 c 264 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     An osteopathic physician(('s)) assistant may sign and attest to any certificates, cards, forms, or other required documentation that the osteopathic physician(('s)) assistant's supervising osteopathic physician or osteopathic physician group may sign, provided that it is within the osteopathic physician(('s)) assistant's scope of practice and is consistent with the terms of the osteopathic physician(('s)) assistant's ((practice arrangement plan)) delegation agreement as required by this chapter.

Sec. 4   RCW 18.71A.030 and 1994 sp.s. c 9 s 320 are each amended to read as follows:
     A physician assistant may practice medicine in this state only ((with the approval of the practice arrangement plan by the commission and only to the extent permitted by the commission)) when supervised by a licensed physician and only after a delegation agreement has been completed and signed by both the physician assistant and one or more supervising physicians. A physician assistant who has received a license but who ((has not received commission approval of the practice arrangement plan under RCW 18.71A.040)) does not have a delegation agreement with a supervising physician may not practice. A physician assistant shall be subject to discipline under chapter 18.130 RCW.

Sec. 5   RCW 18.71A.040 and 1996 c 191 s 58 and 1996 c 191 s 40 are each reenacted and amended to read as follows:
     (1) No physician assistant practicing in this state shall be employed or supervised by a physician or physician group without the approval of the commission.
     (2) Prior to commencing practice, a physician assistant licensed in this state shall ((apply to the commission for permission to be employed or supervised by a physician or physician group. The practice arrangement plan shall be jointly submitted by the physician or physician group and physician assistant. Administrative procedures, administrative requirements, and fees shall be established as provided in RCW 43.70.250 and 43.70.280. The practice arrangement plan)) enter into a delegation agreement with one or more supervising physicians. The delegation agreement shall delineate the manner and extent to which the physician assistant would practice and be supervised. The delegation agreement must be kept on file at the practice and made available to the commission or its representative upon request. Whenever a physician assistant is practicing in a manner inconsistent with the ((approved practice arrangement plan)) delegation agreement, the commission may take disciplinary action under chapter 18.130 RCW.
     (3) A physician may enter into delegation agreements with multiple physician assistants. The commission may not limit the number of delegation agreements into which a physician may enter.

Sec. 6   RCW 18.71A.090 and 2007 c 264 s 3 are each amended to read as follows:
     A physician assistant may sign and attest to any certificates, cards, forms, or other required documentation that the physician assistant's supervising physician or physician group may sign, provided that it is within the physician assistant's scope of practice and is consistent with the terms of the physician assistant's ((practice arrangement plan)) delegation agreement as required by this chapter.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   RCW 18.71A.045 (Eligibility of foreign medical school graduates) and 1994 sp.s. c 9 s 322 & 1988 c 113 s 2 are each repealed.