Bill > SB285

This bill updates numerous references in New Hampshire state law to change the professional title from "physician assistant" to "physician associate" across multiple sections of the Revised Statutes Annotated (RSA). The bill makes clear that this is strictly a terminology change and not intended to alter the rights, privileges, scope of practice, or professional standing of physician assistants. Specifically, the bill ensures that the name change will not impact billing, reimbursement, or payment policies, and that any existing references to "physician assistant" will be interpreted to include "physician associate." The bill covers changes in singular, plural, and possessive forms of the term across a wide range of legal sections, affecting areas such as healthcare regulations, licensure, and professional practice. Most sections of the bill will take effect immediately upon passage, with a few specific sections (Sections 7 and 8) scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027. The legislation aims to modernize the professional terminology while explicitly maintaining the full legal and professional status of these healthcare professionals.

Government Affairs

https://gc.nh.gov/bill_status/legacy/bs2016/bill_status.aspx?lsr=1075&sy=2025&sortoption=&txtsessionyear=2025&txtbillnumber=SB285