BILL NUMBER: S5340C
SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law and the public health law, in relation
to the administration of immunizations by medical assistants
 
PURPOSE:
To authorize medical assistants to administer immunizations under the
direct supervision of a physician or physician assistant on an outpa-
tient setting.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 6526 of the education law to add a new subdivi-
sion 11 to exempt medical assistants under the limited circumstances of
drawing and administering an immunization in an outpatient office under
the direct supervision of a physician, nurse practitioner (NP), or
physician assistant (PA) from the limitation on practicing medicine in
the state without a license. This section further defines medical
assistants.
Section 2 amends section 6909 of the education law to add a new section
12 authorizing an NP to delegate the task of drawing up and administer-
ing immunizations to a medical assistant.
Section 3 amends the public health law by adding a new section 2114
authorizing a physician, NP, or PA to direct a medical assistant to
administer an immunization under direct supervision in an outpatient
setting provided that such immunization is recommended by certain
nationally or internationally recognized organizations. It further
provides that such medical assistant shall receive adequate training and
supervision.
Section 4 provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, New York is the only state which does not authorize medical
assistants to administer immunizations. This bill would allow a medical
assistant to administer immunizations in an outpatient setting under the
direct supervision of a physician, NP or PA. This legislation would
further require that medical assistants receive appropriate training to
be qualified to administer immunizations, and that immunizations are
provided under adequate supervision. These measures ensure that we are
providing greater access to immunizations while ensuring that immuniza-
tions are administered in a safe way.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 180 days after it shall have become law.

Statutes affected:
S5340: 6526 education law
S5340A: 6526 education law
S5340B: 6526 education law
S5340C: 6526 education law