The bill amends the Physician Assistant Act in New Mexico to eliminate certain supervision requirements for physician assistants (PAs). Key changes include redefining "collaboration" to allow PAs to consult or refer to appropriate health care practitioners based on their education and experience, rather than requiring direct supervision by a licensed physician. The bill also specifies that PAs with fewer than 4,000 hours of clinical practice must establish a supervisory relationship with a licensed physician or other appropriate health care practitioner. Additionally, the requirement for PAs to renew their license and registration of supervision with the board has been removed.

Furthermore, the bill allows PAs to independently perform acts within their scope of practice if they have completed the necessary clinical hours and comply with board rules. It emphasizes that PAs must maintain a standard of care based on their education and experience. The bill also clarifies that supervising physicians or health care practitioners must be licensed and approved by the board, and it maintains the responsibility of supervising physicians for the acts performed by the PAs they oversee. Overall, the amendments aim to enhance the autonomy of PAs while ensuring patient safety and care standards.

Statutes affected:
introduced version: 61-6-6, 61-6-19, 61-6C-3, 61-6C-8