Bill > SB115

This bill makes several changes to the scope of practice and regulation of physician assistants (PAs) in Alaska. Key provisions include: 1. Allowing PAs to perform a wide range of medical services, including evaluating, diagnosing, and treating patients, ordering and interpreting tests, writing medical orders, prescribing certain controlled substances, and supervising other medical personnel. 2. Requiring PAs with less than 6,000 hours of practice experience to work under a collaborative agreement with a supervising physician, which must outline the PA's scope of practice, methods for evaluating competency, and requirements for physician oversight and consultation. 3. Allowing PAs to practice without a collaborative agreement after completing 6,000 hours of practice experience, or a lesser amount if approved by the medical board. 4. Prohibiting health insurance policies from imposing practice, education, or collaboration requirements on PAs that are more restrictive than those outlined in the law. 5. Recognizing PAs as "practitioners" for the purposes of prescribing and administering controlled substances, and as "attending physicians" for workers' compensation claims. Overall, the bill aims to expand the scope of practice and autonomy of PAs in Alaska's healthcare system, while maintaining appropriate oversight and standards of care.