Proposed Changes to Prescribing Authority for Physician Assistants …

The Frame

What this does

The bill would have changed the scope of practice for physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses during emergencies, potentially altering the speed and autonomy of medical care delivery in affected counties.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Physician assistants

The bill would have altered their prescribing documentation requirements and authorized independent practice during emergencies.

Advanced practice registered nurses

The bill would have authorized independent practice during emergencies and revised their drug formulary requirements.

Supervising physicians

The bill would have removed their obligation to notify the state of delegation and have their names included on prescriptions issued by physician assistants.

What changed

Last recorded activity March 13, 2026.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill would have allowed physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to provide medical services without physician supervision during declared states of emergency. It also sought to remove certain administrative requirements for physician assistants, such as notifying the state of delegation and including a supervising physician's name on prescriptions.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did this bill become law?

No, the bill died in the Health Policy committee on March 13, 2026.

What would have changed for physician assistants during an emergency?

They would have been authorized to provide medical services without physician supervision in counties covered by a declared state of emergency, provided they held an active, unrestricted license.

Would all physician assistants have been allowed to work unsupervised during emergencies?

No, the bill specifically excluded out-of-state physician assistants registered for telehealth and those holding temporary certificates for areas of critical need.

Why It Matters

The bill would have changed the scope of practice for physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses during emergencies, potentially altering the speed and autonomy of medical care delivery in affected counties.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Emergency Autonomy Expansion

The bill reflects a legislative attempt to increase medical workforce flexibility during state-declared emergencies by temporarily suspending supervision requirements.

Physician assistants Advanced practice registered nurses