10/01/2011

PA Modernization Bill - HB284 - Receives Hearings in the House

HB284 received Sponsor testimony on September 14th in the House Health Committee.  Bill co-sponsors Representatives Gonzales and Letson outlined the content of the bill and why they chose to introduce it.

Proponent testimony was heard on September 21^st.  Josanne Pagel, OAPA GAC Chair, and PA Program Directors Gloria Stewart (Marietta) and David Paulk (Ohio Dominican) testified in support of the bill.  Testimony outlined PA history and current practice, education and training and the need for expanded utilization of PAs.

OAPA anticipates the next hearing to occur on November 16th when we hope to have physicians and representatives of OSU and the Cleveland Clinic testify.

The bill will:

1. Allow PAs to make pronouncement of death.  Physicians may rely on this announcement when signing a death certificate and would be exempt from liability when doing so.
2. Provide PAs immunity from liability when providing emergency services.
3. Allow PAs to insert and remove chest tubes.
4. Clarify that PAs can prescribe PT and OT treatment.
5. Give PAs Schedule II prescriptive authority.
6.  Exempt out-of-state PAs from the prescriptive provisional period if they provide an affidavit of prescriptive authority from another jurisdiction to the Ohio State Medical Board.
7.  Improve the process for amending the PA formulary in response to the Medical Board’s desire to update the formulary in a more timely fashion.

>>  View Entire Bill <<

We encourage you to contact your State Representative to urge support of HB284.  Information needed to do so may be found on this website under "Legislation."

Contribute to the OAPA PAC today! AWSLinkToForm[6,5]