Our Patients Deserve Physician-Led Care
Colleagues:
I have good news and bad news. First the good news. The final State Budget excluded a proposal that would have significantly expanded scope of practice for many allied health practitioners, including eliminating physician oversight of PAs (Physician Assistants) and permitting pharmacists to order dozens of lab tests without physician coordination.
The bad news is that the proposals are back. As we enter the final weeks of the 2023 Legislative Session, MSSNY, working together with numerous medical specialty societies, is continuing to oppose new bills under consideration that would inappropriately expand the scope of practice services that can be provided by various allied health practitioners without adequate physician involvement. On the heels of these proposals being eliminated from the State Budget, they are right back again. The new proposals include S.66-A/A.1262 (grant prescribing rights to psychologists), A.5012/S.5520 (allow PAs to practice independently without physician oversight after 3,600 hours of practice); A.2217/S.2254 (expand the scope of practice of a podiatrist to treat conditions of the ankle and leg), S.2126 (permit PAs to perform fluoroscopy without adequate physician supervision); and A.6958/S.769 (allow Nurse Anesthetists to administer anesthesia with reduced physician oversight).
A.5012/S.5520, for example, would adversely impact patient care by eliminating required physician supervision of care provided by a PA. Most of us work with PAs every day in our practices and in our hospitals. They are invaluable members of the coordinated medical team, but they have far more limited education and training compared to what we received in medical school and residency. Based on our extensive education and training, patients are best served by a team-based care model with the physician as the head of the team instead of creating silos in the delivery of needed patient care.
We remain willing to discuss ways to help expand the availability of patient care in a way that will not unnecessarily expose patients to excessive risks. We face physician shortages in areas across the State because of the extraordinarily difficult practice environment for physicians in New York, which is why New York is regularly ranked as one of the worst states to be a physician. The best solution is to make New York a more welcoming state for physicians.
Please remind your legislators that patients are best served by a team-based approach with a skilled physician overseeing and guiding care and urge them to oppose this legislation. Send a letter to your Assemblymembers and Senators quickly and easily from our Grassroots Action Center.
Paul A. Pipia, MD
MSSNY President
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