Governor Vetoes Legislation to Designate PAs as PCPs; Signs Legislation to Expand Functions of PAs Under Supervision
Governor Hochul has vetoed legislation (S.2124/A.7725) that would have permitted Physician Assistants (PAs) to be designated as “primary care practitioners” for Medicaid managed care (MMC) plans. The Governor’s veto message noted that she has already required MMC plans to list PAs in their directories. Moreover, her veto message noted that the State Legislature rejected a proposal in the 2024-25 Executive Budget that would have permitted many PAs to practice without any physician supervision.
MSSNY together with specialty societies strongly opposed the various legislative proposals to permit PAs to practice without appropriate physician oversight. The Governor did sign into law a substantially narrower bill (A8378-A/S9038-A) that maintains physician supervision of PAs while 1) increasing the Physician-PA supervision ratio from 1:4 to 1:6 in private practice settings and from 1:6 to 1:8 for care in correctional facilities, 2) permitting PAs to execute non-patient specific standing orders with nurses for the 12 types of tests and treatment that physicians and NPs may currently execute standing orders with nurses including for emergency treatment of anaphylaxis, and testing for HIV, Hep C, tuberculosis or pregnancy; and 3) permitting PAs to order durable medical equipment in a hospital setting, again under the supervision of a physician. This law will take effect February 22, 2025.
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