BILL NUMBER: S7981
SPONSOR: RIVERA
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the education law and the public health law, in relation
to the performance of medical services by physician assistants
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
To expand physician assistant practice standards as it relates to the
ability to practice independently.
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends 6542 of the education law to add a new subdivision 1-a
permitting a physician assistant to practice without supervision of a
physician under certain circumstances. It further enumerates the tasks
which such PA may perform without supervision.
Section 2 amends subdivision 1 of section 3701 of the public health law
to clarify the language authorizing the department of health to promul-
gate regulations defining and restricting the duties of physician
assistants.
Section 3 makes a technical amendment section 3707 of the public health
law to incorporate the language from section 1.
Section 4 amends paragraph a of subdivision 2 of section 902 of the
education law to add physician assistants to the list of practitioners
authorized to perform the duties of the director of school health
services.
Section 5 provides the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Currently, New Yorkers face significant barriers to health care that
largely stem from a shortage of healthcare professionals able to serve
the needs of our communities. The 2024 Primary Care Development Corpo-
ration scorecard noted that 15% of New Yorkers reported not having a
usual source of care or regular health care provider. Access to care
issues are exacerbated in rural communities, where there is even lower
access to primary and specialized healthcare.
Modernizing practice guidelines for PAs will increase the number of
Tyideri accessible to New Yorkers on a given day. This bill will allow
PAs with over 6,000 practide 'hours to practice within the limited scope
laid out in this legislation without supervision. Allowing experienced
PAs to practice to the highest extent of their education and training
will help to alleviate the healthcare shortage that we are feeling
across the state while ensuring that New Yorkers continue to receive
high quality healthcare.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATION:
Savings to be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
120 days after it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S7981: 3701 public health law, 3701(1) public health law, 3703 public health law, 902 education law, 902(2) education law