The bill seeks to enhance the collaborative practice of physician assistants (PAs) in Washington State, particularly in light of challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It allows PAs to operate without a delegation agreement from a supervising physician, thereby improving access to healthcare services in underserved and rural areas. The legislation introduces new definitions and requirements for "collaboration agreements," which must be signed by the PA and at least one collaborating physician or the PA's employer. This shift emphasizes a team-based approach to patient care, clarifying that these agreements do not impose supervisory responsibilities on physicians. Additionally, the bill allows PAs to sign necessary documentation within their scope of practice without requiring a physician's countersignature, streamlining care delivery.

Key amendments include replacing "practice agreements" with "collaboration agreements" and changing "supervising physician" to "collaborating physician" throughout the text, fostering a more cooperative relationship. The bill also establishes protocols for the immediate termination of collaboration agreements under certain circumstances and allows for performance assessments of PAs to be conducted by their employers. Furthermore, it introduces provisions for third-party payers to reimburse employers for services rendered by licensed PAs, ensuring equitable compensation. The bill aims to improve healthcare access and efficiency while also updating definitions related to behavioral health services, ensuring that the legal framework aligns with current practices in healthcare.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 18.71A.020, 18.71A.025, 18.71A.030, 18.71A.050, 18.57.001, 18.71A.120, 18.71A.130, 18.71A.150, 10.77.175, 18.71.030, 18.79.290, 51.04.030, 51.28.100, 71.05.020, 71.05.215, 71.05.217, 71.05.310, 71.32.110, 71.32.140, 71.32.250, 71.34.020, 71.34.755, 74.09.497