ASSISTANT PHYSICIANS:
This act changes the examination requirement for an assistant physician to require that an assistant physician complete Step 2 instead of Step 1 and Step 2, of the United States Medical Licensing Examination within a three-year period before applying for licensure but in no event more than three years after graduation from a medical college.
An assistant physician licensure fee cannot be more than the licensure fee for a physician assistant. Additionally, no rules can require an assistant physician to complete more hours of continuing medical education than a licensed physician.
The act repeals the requirement that an assistant physician has to enter into a collaborative practice agreement within six months of initial licensure.
A health carrier shall reimburse an assistant physician on the same basis that it covers a service when it is provided by another comparable mid-level provider.
No rule or regulation shall require the collaborating physician to review more than ten percent of the assistant physician's patient charts or records during the one-month period that the physician is continuously present while the assistant physician is practicing medicine.
An assistant physician may prescribe buprenorphine for up to a 30-day supply without refill in certain circumstances.
An assistant physician who is providing opioid addiction treatment can receive a certificate of prescriptive authority without having completed 120 hours of practice in a four month period with a collaborating physician.
(Sections 334.036 & 334.037)
These provisions are substantially similar to provisions contained in the truly agreed CCS/HCS/SB 951 (2018), and similar to provisions contained in SCS/HCS/HB 2127 (2018) and SCS/HCS/HB 1574 (2018).
COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE AND SUPERVISORY AGREEMENTS: Current law authorizes physicians to enter into a collaborative practice agreement with 3 advanced practice registered nurses (APRN) and 3 assistant physicians, and a supervising agreement with 3 licensed physician assistants. This act authorizes physicians to enter into a collaborative practice agreement or a supervising agreement with 6 APRNs, assistant physicians, licensed physician assistants, or any combination thereof.