The proposed changes are intended to update the PA statute section 15 to reflect current practice, allow better access to care and reduce the administrative burden on health care practices.  This proposal does not go as far to recommend independent practice or incorporate AAPA’s Optimal Team Practice (OTP) policy although will go far to address the non-parity with Nurse Practitioners.   This includes, but is not limited to:

House Bill 722 by Delegate Kerr: Physician Assistants - Parity With Other Health Care Practitioners (Physician Assistant Parity Act of 2023)

Senate Bill 674by Senators Carozza and Klausmeier: Physician Assistants - Parity With Other Health Care Practitioners (Physician Assistant Parity Act of 2023)

Senate Bill 673by Senators Carozza and Klausmeier: Physician Assistants - Revisions (Physician Assistant Modernization Act of 2023)

• Allowing scope of practice to be based upon a PA’s education, training, experience, and competencies
• Moving away from “supervision” to describe the nature of the PA working relationship with physicians and replacing it with “collaboration”     
• Eliminating a delegation agreement to replace with collaboration registration. Reflecting the current practice with interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Eliminating the concept that a PA’s scope of practice should be based upon the physician’s scope.  Allow PAs to practice within their education and training providing better access to treatment     services.
• Eliminating the concept and distinction between “advanced” and “core” duties, consistent with the national standards and surrounding states.
• Eliminating the concept of agency or that the physician should be responsible for PA provided care, making PAs responsible for the care they provide consistent with all other disciplines in Maryland.