The patient registered for care at a mobile dental and medical clinic last year. Several states have recently passed policies to make it easier for physician assistants to practice and serve more patients. (Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
Alabama, Maine, and Virginia recently adopted policies to make it easier for physician assistants to practice and serve more patients.
Alabama became the 24th state to adopt the PA Licensure Compact, an agreement between states that authorizes these physicians to practice across state lines. Supporters say the agreement could lend a hand remove administrative barriers for physician assistants, making it easier for them to fill gaps in rural and underserved communities that don’t have enough primary care health care workers.
Alabama has approximately 1,400 physician assistants. The legislation, sponsored by Republican state Rep. Paul Lee, received unanimous support in both the House and Senate.
According to the American Academy of Physician Associates, ten states – Alaska, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island – are waiting to pass legislation that would allow them to join the agreement.
Virginia passed law last week to allow physician assistants with three years of full-time clinical experience to practice without a medical practice contract.
Earlier this month, Democratic Governor of Maine Janet Mills signed a bill updating state policy to remove the requirement to consult with PAs and practice contracts with doctors. The state has approximately 1,100 protected areas.
The American Medical Association, which represents doctors, opposes such regulations. Group politics stance is that APs should practice under the direction and supervision of a physician.
According to the American Academy of Physician Associates, Maine has joined seven other states to waive the oversight agreement requirement: Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at: nhassanein@stateline.org.
This story was originally produced by state linewhich is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network that includes Pennsylvania Capital-Star, and is supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity.
