HCS HB 497 -- PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

This bill expands the definition of "supervision" of physician
assistants to allow supervising physicians to be available via
telecommunication for consultation, assistance, or intervention.
Supervising physicians must be present a minimum of 66% of the
clinic's hours for practice supervision and collaboration when
utilizing physician assistants, and physician assistants must
practice within 30 miles of the supervising physician.

The Advisory Commission on Physician Assistants is authorized to
create a waiver mechanism by which an individual physician and a
physician assistant together may apply to the State Board of
Registration for the Healing Arts for alternate amounts of
on-site supervision and distances from the supervising physician.
After receiving a waiver, the physician assistant will be allowed
to conduct unsupervised practice up to 50 miles from the
supervising physician in a designated health professional
shortage area.

Prior to allowing a physician assistant to practice without the
physician being physically present, the physician assistant must
practice for one month with continuous physician supervision.
After January 1, 2008, a physician assistant applicant will be
required to have a master's degree from a physician assistant
program.

The bill also voids and makes it against public policy to require
any physician to enter into any contract or other agreement to
act as a supervising physician for any physician assistant.  A
physician has the right to refuse to act as a supervising
physician, and no contract will limit the supervising physician's
ultimate authority over any protocols or standing orders.  A
physician cannot supervise more than three full-time physician
assistants except in a hospital setting.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated July 25, 2007 at 11:19 am