SENATE BILL REPORT

ESHB 2917

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

Senate Committee on Health & Long-Term Care

Senate Hearing Date(s):February 20, 1990; February 21, 1990

Majority Report:  Do pass as amended.

      Signed by Senators West, Chairman; Smith, Vice Chairman; Amondson, Johnson, Kreidler, Niemi, Wojahn.

Senate Staff:Scott Plack (786-7409)

                  February 21, 1990

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON HEALTH & LONG-TERM CARE, FEBRUARY 21, 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.  They 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The authority to license physician assistant acupuncturists is repealed, although those currently licensed may continue to practice if licensed as physician assistants.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."

Appropriation:    none

Revenue:    none

Fiscal Note:      requested January 30, 1990

SUMMARY OF PROPOSED SENATE AMENDMENT:

The membership of the Board of Medical Examiners is increased to include an additional consumer.  The physician assistant member is permitted to vote on all matters of the board and not just those affecting physician assistants as is currently authorized.  The provision is deleted that requires that physician assistants have 30 credit hours of pharmacology training and 15 hours of continuing education in pharmacology every two years.

Senate Committee - Testified: Jeff Larsen, Washington Academy of Physician Assistants (pro); David Panther, Washington Academy of Physician Assistants (pro); Henry Stoll, MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program (pro); Patti Rathbun, Department of Health (pro)