Pennsylvania Act 2007-47 — OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

Act text

OSTEOPATHIC MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT - PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
                  Act of Jul. 20, 2007, P.L. 316, No. 47              Cl. 63
                             Session of 2007
                               No. 2007-47

     HB 1252

                                  AN ACT

     Amending the act of October 5, 1978 (P.L.1109, No.261), entitled
        "An act requiring the licensing of practitioners of
        osteopathic medicine and surgery; regulating their practice;
        providing for certain funds and penalties for violations and
        repeals," further providing for physician assistants.

        The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
     hereby enacts as follows:

        Section 1.  Section 10(g) of the act of October 5, 1978
     (P.L.1109, No.261), known as the Osteopathic Medical Practice
     Act, is amended and the section is amended by adding a
     subsection to read:
      Section 10.  Licenses; exemptions; nonresident practitioners;
                    graduate students; biennial registration and
                    continuing medical education.
        * * *
        (g)  The supervising physician shall file with the board an
     application to utilize a physician assistant containing a
     description of the manner in which the physician assistant will
     assist the supervising physician in his practice, the method and
     frequency of supervision and the geographic location of the
     physician assistant. [In no instance may a physician supervise
     more than two physician assistants at any time.] There shall be
     no more than four physician assistants for whom a physician has
     responsibility or supervises pursuant to a written agreement at
     any time. In health care facilities licensed under the act of
     July 19, 1979 (P.L.130, No.48), known as the "Health Care
     Facilities Act," a physician assistant shall be under the
     supervision and direction of a physician or physician group
     pursuant to a written agreement, provided that a physician
     supervises no more than four physician assistants at any time. A
     physician may apply for a waiver to employ or supervise more
     than four physician assistants at any time under this section
     for good cause, as determined by the board. In cases where a
     group of physicians will supervise a physician assistant, the
     names of all supervisory physicians shall be included on the
     application.
        (g.1)  In health care facilities licensed under the "Health
     Care Facilities Act," the attending physician of record for a
     particular patient shall act as the primary supervising
     physician for the physician assistant while that patient is
     under the care of the attending physician.
        * * *
        Section 2.  The State Board of Osteopathic Medicine shall
     promulgate regulations to implement the amendment or addition of
     section 10(g) and (g.1) of the act within 18 months of the
     effective date of this act.
        Section 3.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

     APPROVED--The 20th day of July, A. D. 2007.

     EDWARD G. RENDELL