House Bill 2044, also known as Senate Bill 2548, amends various sections of the Tennessee Code Annotated to enhance the role of certified medical assistants (CMAs) in healthcare settings. The bill allows physician assistants to delegate tasks to CMAs, provided they are in collaboration with a licensed physician. This delegation is further clarified to require a protocol or collaborative agreement with the collaborating physician. Additionally, the bill updates the certification requirements for CMAs, specifying that they must be certified or registered by recognized certifying bodies such as the American Medical Technologists and the National Healthcareer Association.

The bill also revises the responsibilities of ambulatory outpatient clinics regarding the training and competency verification of CMAs, particularly in administering medications. It outlines the specific types of medications that CMAs are authorized to administer, including various forms of injections, oral medications, and anesthetic agents, while ensuring that certain patient care activities requiring clinical judgment remain the responsibility of the physician assistant. The legislation aims to streamline the delegation process and clarify the roles of healthcare providers, ultimately enhancing patient care and operational efficiency in medical settings.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 63-19-106, 68-11-244(a)(2), 68-11-244, 68-11-244(e)(3), 68-11-244(g), 68-11-244(i)(1)(A), 68-11-244(i)(1)(D), 68-11-244(i)(1), 68-11-244(i)(2), 68-11-244(i)(3), 68-11-244(j)(8), 68-11-244(j)