PRACTICE AS PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANT                                                   H.B. 5533 (H-1):

                                                                                                    SUMMARY OF BILL

                                                                                      REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE

House Bill 5533 (Substitute H-1 as reported without amendment)

Sponsor:  Representative Edward J. Canfield, D.O.

House Committee:  Health Policy

Senate Committee:  Health Policy

CONTENT

The bill would amend the Public Health Code to delete provisions authorizing a physician's assistant (P.A.) to practice under the supervision of a delegating physician or podiatrist, and instead allow a P.A. to practice without supervision by entering into a practice agreement with a physician or a podiatrist. Specifically, the bill would do the following:

-- Revise the definition of "practice as a physician's assistant" to reflect this change.

-- Prohibit a P.A. from engaging in the practice as a P.A. except under the terms of a practice agreement that met the requirements prescribed in the bill.

-- Eliminate a requirement that a P.A. provide medical care services only under the supervision of a physician.

-- Authorize the Board of Medicine, the Board of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery, and the Board of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery, as applicable, to prohibit or otherwise restrict medical care services within a practice agreement, under certain circumstances.

-- Delete a provision prohibiting a physician from delegating ultimate responsibility for the quality of medical care services.

-- Delete references to the delegation of drug prescription by a physician to a P.A., and authorize the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) to promulgate rules regarding the prescription of drugs by a P.A.

-- Eliminate a waiver applicable to a P.A. from a requirement to obtain a license from the Michigan Board of Pharmacy to prescribe or dispense a controlled substance.

-- Include a licensed P.A. in the definition of "prescriber" for the purposes of pharmacy practice and drug control.

-- Allow the applicable board to prohibit a physician, podiatrist, or P.A. from entering into a practice agreement for any of the grounds for disciplinary action under the Code.

-- Include failure to practice in accordance with the terms of a practice agreement among the grounds for disciplinary action against a licensee, and prescribe sanctions.

-- Allow a health facility or agency to designate one or more physicians to enter into a practice agreement with a P.A.

-- Revise the duties of the joint task for licensed health profession subfields, and transfer the duties to LARA.

MCL 333.7303a et al.                                                     Legislative Analyst:  Julie Cassidy

FISCAL IMPACT

The bill would have no fiscal impact on State or local government.

Date Completed:  12-8-16                                                     Fiscal Analyst:  Josh Sefton

This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan Senate staff for use by the Senate in its deliberations and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.