(a) (1) A practice agreement shall include provisions that address the following:

(A) The types of medical services a physician assistant is authorized to perform.

Terms Used In California Business and Professions Code 3502.3

  • Board: means the Physician Assistant Board. See California Business and Professions Code 3501
  • Organized health care system: includes a licensed clinic as described in Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 1200) of Division 2 of . See California Business and Professions Code 3501
  • Practice agreement: means the writing, developed through collaboration among one or more physicians and surgeons and one or more physician assistants, that defines the medical services the physician assistant is authorized to perform pursuant to Section 3502 and that grants approval for physicians and surgeons on the staff of an organized health care system to supervise one or more physician assistants in the organized health care system. See California Business and Professions Code 3501
  • Regulations: means the rules and regulations as set forth in Division 13. See California Business and Professions Code 3501
  • Subdivision: means a subdivision of the section in which that term occurs, unless some other section is expressly mentioned. See California Business and Professions Code 15
  • supervising physician and surgeon: means a physician and surgeon licensed by the Medical Board of California or by the Osteopathic Medical Board of California who supervises one or more physician assistants, who possesses a current valid license to practice medicine, and who is not currently on disciplinary probation prohibiting the employment or supervision of a physician assistant. See California Business and Professions Code 3501
  • Supervision: means that a licensed physician and surgeon oversees the activities of, and accepts responsibility for, the medical services rendered by a physician assistant. See California Business and Professions Code 3501

(B) Policies and procedures to ensure adequate supervision of the physician assistant, including, but not limited to, appropriate communication, availability, consultations, and referrals between a physician and surgeon and the physician assistant in the provision of medical services.

(C) The methods for the continuing evaluation of the competency and qualifications of the physician assistant.

(D) The furnishing or ordering of drugs or devices by a physician assistant pursuant to Section 3502.1.

(E) Any additional provisions agreed to by the physician assistant and physician and surgeon.

(2) A practice agreement shall be signed by both of the following:

(A) The physician assistant.

(B) One or more physicians and surgeons or a physician and surgeon who is authorized to approve the practice agreement on behalf of the staff of the physicians and surgeons on the staff of an organized health care system.

(3) A delegation of services agreement in effect prior to January 1, 2020, shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this subdivision.

(4) A practice agreement may designate a PA as an agent of a supervising physician and surgeon.

(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require approval of a practice agreement by the board.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, in addition to any other practices that meet the general criteria set forth in this chapter or regulations adopted by the board or the Medical Board of California, a practice agreement may authorize a PA to do any of the following:

(1) Order durable medical equipment, subject to any limitations set forth in Section 3502 or the practice agreement. Notwithstanding that authority, nothing in this paragraph shall operate to limit the ability of a third-party payer to require prior approval.

(2) For individuals receiving home health services or personal care services, after consultation with a supervising physician and surgeon, approve, sign, modify, or add to a plan of treatment or plan of care.

(3) After performance of a physical examination by the PA under the supervision of a physician and surgeon consistent with this chapter, certify disability pursuant to § 2708 of the Unemployment Insurance Code. The Employment Development Department shall implement this paragraph on or before January 1, 2017.

(c) This section shall not be construed to affect the validity of any practice agreement in effect prior to the effective date of this section or those adopted subsequent to the effective date of this section.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 707, Sec. 5. (SB 697) Effective January 1, 2020.)

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