Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Changes the definition of "physician assistant", "physician assistant practice", "board", and "collaborating physician". Provides that a physician assistant shall be deemed by law to possess the ability to prescribe, dispense, order, administer, and procure drugs and medical devices without delegation of such authority by a physician. Provides that such ability shall include the prescribing of Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances. Provides that to prescribe Schedule II, III, IV, or V controlled substances under the Act, a physician assistant shall obtain a mid-level practitioner controlled substances license. Provides that when a written collaboration agreement is required under the Act, delegation of prescriptive authority by a physician is not required. Provides that a physician assistant who files with the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation a notarized attestation of completion of at least 250 hours of continuing education or training and at least 2,000 hours of clinical experience after first attaining national certification shall not require a written collaborative agreement. Provides the specified scope of practice of a physician assistant with optimal practice authority. Provides that a physician assistant shall be able to hold more than one professional position. Makes changes in provisions concerning the physician assistant title, collaboration requirements, and the written collaborative agreement. Makes other changes and corresponding changes to the Act and to the Illinois Controlled Substances Act.
Senate Committee Amendment No. 2: Replaces everything after the enacting clause. Amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act of 1987. Provides that any physician assistant required to enter into a written collaborative agreement with a collaborating physician is authorized to continue to practice for up to 90 days after the termination of a written collaborative agreement, provided the physician assistant seeks any necessary collaboration at a local hospital and refers patients who require services beyond the training and experience of the physician assistant to a physician or other health care provider. Provides that physicians and physician assistants who work in a federally qualified health center are exempt from specified collaborative ratio restriction requirements. Adds physician assistants providing services in federally qualified health centers to provisions that authorize certain physician assistants to provide services without a written collaborative agreement and to prescribe certain controlled substances. Defines "federally qualified health center". Makes conforming and other changes.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 225 ILCS 95/4, 225 ILCS 95/5, 225 ILCS 95/6, 225 ILCS 95/7, 225 ILCS 95/17, 225 ILCS 95/21, 720 ILCS 570/102, 720 ILCS 570/303
Engrossed: 225 ILCS 95/4, 225 ILCS 95/7
Enrolled: 225 ILCS 95/4, 225 ILCS 95/7
Public Act: 225 ILCS 95/4, 225 ILCS 95/7