HOUSE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2917

As Amended by the Senate

BYHouse Committee on Health Care (originally sponsored by Representatives 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 PASSED HOUSE FEBRUARY 13, 1990

BACKGROUND:

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

A physician must submit an application to the board to use the services of a physician's assistant.  The physician assistant is not required to submit an application.

Physician's assistants are not authorized to prescribe controlled substances, nor required to have any education in pharmacology.

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

SUMMARY:

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 authorized to prescribe controlled substances, and are required to have a minimum of 30 credit hours in pharmacology, as well as 15 credit hours in continuing education every two years.

The authority to license physician assistant acupuncturists is repealed, although those currently licensed may continue to practice if licensed as physician assistants.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

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  The physician assistant member of the board is permitted to participate in all matters before the board.  The number of non-physician members is changed from one to two.  Obsolete language is defined as a majority of the members serving.  Gender references are corrected.

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.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 95; Nays 3

Voting Nay: Representatives Betrozoff, Moyer, Wolfe.