SB515: Bill Text

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill makes changes with respect to the licensure, regulation, and practice of physician assistants (PAs).

Under current law, PAs are defined as individuals who are licensed to provide medical care with physician supervision and direction. The Medical Examining Board licenses and regulates PAs as well as physicians and certain other professions. The Medical Examining Board is composed of ten physicians and three public members and is authorized to promulgate rules establishing licensing and practice standards for PAs.

This bill transfers licensure and regulation of PAs to the newly created Physician Assistant Examining Board. The new board is composed of seven PAs, one member who may be either a physician or a PA, and one public member. In addition, the bill makes various changes to the licensure, regulation, and practice of PAs, including all of the following:

1. Instead of requiring that a PA practice under the supervision and direction of a physician, requires, subject to certain exceptions, that a PA who provides care to patients maintain and provide to the board upon request either 1) evidence that, pursuant to the physician assistant's employment, there is a physician who is primarily responsible for the overall direction and management of the physician assistant's professional activities and for assuring that the services provided by the physician assistant are medically appropriate or 2) a written collaborative agreement with a physician or, if the physician assistant's practice is limited to the practice of podiatry, a podiatrist, which must describe the PA's scope of practice and include other information as required by the board. However, the bill provides that a PA is individually and independently responsible for the quality of the care he or she renders.

2. Defines a PA's practice similarly to the definition of the practice of medicine and surgery. The bill also explicitly provides that a PA may prescribe, dispense, and administer drugs and may serve as a primary or specialty care provider. The bill requires a PA to limit his or her practice to the scope of his or her experience, education, and training, and retains a number of limitations on the practice of PAs.

3. Includes a number of additional provisions with respect to the obligations of PAs. These include a requirement that a PA have in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage when practicing, subject to certain exceptions and other provisions.

4. Establishes licensure requirements for PAs, which differ in a number of respects from the requirements under current law, including that PAs submit additional information, including an employment history, with a licensure application. Under the bill, the board must require continuing education for PAs. Currently, PAs are not required to complete continuing education.

5. Specifies various grounds for professional discipline of a PA by the board and allows the board to impose professional discipline consistent with other professions.

Because this bill creates a new crime or revises a penalty for an existing crime, the Joint Review Committee on Criminal Penalties may be requested to prepare a report.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB515,1 Section 1. 15.08 (1m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,3,12 15.08 (1m) (b) The public members of the chiropractic examining board, the dentistry examining board, the hearing and speech examining board, the medical examining board, the physical therapy examining board, the perfusionists examining council, the respiratory care practitioners examining council and council on, the physician assistants assistant examining board, the board of nursing, the nursing home administrator examining board, the veterinary examining board, the optometry examining board, the pharmacy examining board, the marriage and family therapy, professional counseling, and social work examining board, the psychology examining board, and the radiography examining board shall not be engaged in any profession or occupation concerned with the delivery of physical or mental health care.

SB515,2 Section 2. 15.405 (4) of the statutes is created to read:

SB515,4,3 15.405 (4) Physician assistant examining board. (a) There is created in the department of safety and professional services a physician assistant examining board consisting of the following members appointed for staggered 4-year terms:

SB515,4,4 1. Seven physician assistants licensed under ch. 461.

SB515,4,6 2. One individual who is either a physician licensed under subch. II of ch. 448 or a physician assistant licensed under ch. 461.

SB515,4,7 3. One public member.

SB515,4,10 (b) The governor may appoint a physician assistant to the physician assistant examining board under par. (a) 2. only if the governor has determined that there is no suitable physician who is willing to serve on the board.

SB515,3 Section 3. 15.407 (2) of the statutes is repealed.

SB515,4 Section 4 . 16.417 (1) (e) 3m. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,4,14 16.417 (1) (e) 3m. A physician assistant who is licensed under s. 448.04 (1) (f) 461.07.

SB515,5 Section 5 . 46.03 (44) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,4,24 46.03 (44) Sexually transmitted disease treatment information. Prepare and keep current an information sheet to be distributed to a patient by a physician, physician assistant, or certified advanced practice nurse prescriber providing expedited partner therapy to that patient under s. 448.035 or 461.035. The information sheet shall include information about sexually transmitted diseases and their treatment and about the risk of drug allergies. The information sheet shall also include a statement advising a person with questions about the information to contact his or her physician, pharmacist, or local health department, as defined in s. 250.01 (4).

SB515,6 Section 6. 48.981 (2m) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,5,3 48.981 (2m) (b) 1. “Health care provider" means a physician, as defined under s. 448.01 (5), a physician assistant, as defined under s. 448.01 (6) 461.01 (3), or a nurse holding a license under s. 441.06 (1) or a license under s. 441.10.

SB515,7 Section 7 . 49.45 (9r) (a) 7. a. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,5,6 49.45 (9r) (a) 7. a. A physician or physician assistant licensed under subch. II of ch. 448.

SB515,8 Section 8 . 49.45 (9r) (a) 7. am. of the statutes is created to read:

SB515,5,8 49.45 (9r) (a) 7. am. A physician assistant licensed under ch. 461.

SB515,9 Section 9. 50.01 (4p) of the statutes is repealed.

SB515,10 Section 10. 50.08 (2) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,5,15 50.08 (2) A physician, an advanced practice nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16 (2), or a physician assistant licensed under ch. 448, who prescribes a psychotropic medication to a nursing home resident who has degenerative brain disorder shall notify the nursing home if the prescribed medication has a boxed warning under 21 CFR 201.57.

SB515,11 Section 11. 50.39 (3) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,5,25 50.39 (3) Facilities governed by ss. 45.50, 48.62, 49.70, 49.72, 50.02, 51.09, and 252.10, juvenile correctional facilities as defined in s. 938.02 (10p), correctional institutions governed by the department of corrections under s. 301.02, and the offices and clinics of persons licensed to treat the sick under chs. 446, 447, and 448 are exempt from ss. 50.32 to 50.39. Sections 50.32 to 50.39 do not abridge the rights of the medical examining board, physician assistant examining board, physical therapy examining board, podiatry affiliated credentialing board, dentistry examining board, pharmacy examining board, chiropractic examining board, and board of nursing in carrying out their statutory duties and responsibilities.

SB515,12 Section 12. 50.60 (1) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,6,3 50.60 (1) “Health care provider" has the meaning given in s. 146.81 (1) (a) to (hp) (hr).

SB515,13 Section 13 . 55.14 (8) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,6,15 55.14 (8) (b) Order the individual to comply with the treatment plan under par. (a). The order shall provide that if the individual fails to comply with provisions of the treatment plan that require the individual to take psychotropic medications, the medications may be administered involuntarily with consent of the guardian. The order shall specify the methods of involuntary administration of psychotropic medication to which the guardian may consent. An order authorizing the forcible restraint of an individual shall specify that a person licensed under s. 441.06, 441.10, or 448.05 (2) or (5), or 461.07 shall be present at all times that psychotropic medication is administered in this manner and shall require the person or facility using forcible restraint to maintain records stating the date of each administration, the medication administered, and the method of forcible restraint utilized.

SB515,14 Section 14 . 69.01 (6g) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,6,19 69.01 (6g) “Date of death" means the date that a person is pronounced dead by a physician, coroner, deputy coroner, medical examiner, deputy medical examiner, physician assistant, or hospice nurse.

SB515,15 Section 15 . 69.18 (1) (ck) of the statutes is created to read:

SB515,6,24 69.18 (1) (ck) For purposes of preparation of the certificate of death and in accordance with accepted medical standards, a physician assistant who is directly involved with the care of a patient who dies may pronounce the date, time, and place of the patient's death.

SB515,16 Section 16. 70.47 (8) (intro.) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,7,13 70.47 (8) Hearing. (intro.) The board shall hear upon oath all persons who appear before it in relation to the assessment. Instead of appearing in person at the hearing, the board may allow the property owner, or the property owner's representative, at the request of either person, to appear before the board, under oath, by telephone or to submit written statements, under oath, to the board. The board shall hear upon oath, by telephone, all ill or disabled persons who present to the board a letter from a physician, osteopath, physician assistant, as defined in s. 448.01 (6), or advanced practice nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16 (2) that confirms their illness or disability. At the request of the property owner or the property owner's representative, the board may postpone and reschedule a hearing under this subsection, but may not postpone and reschedule a hearing more than once during the same session for the same property. The board at such hearing shall proceed as follows:

SB515,17 Section 17. 97.67 (5m) (a) 3. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,7,15 97.67 (5m) (a) 3. A physician assistant licensed under subch. II of ch. 448 461.

SB515,18 Section 18. 118.2925 (1) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,7,18 118.2925 (1) (f) “Physician assistant" means a person licensed under s. 448.04 (1) (f) 461.07.

SB515,19 Section 19. 146.38 (1) (b) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,7,20 146.38 (1) (b) 1. A person specified in s. 146.81 (1) (a) to (hp) (hr), (r), or (s).

SB515,20 Section 20. 146.81 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,7,23 146.81 (1) (d) A physician, physician assistant, perfusionist, or respiratory care practitioner licensed or certified under subch. II of ch. 448.

SB515,21 Section 21. 146.81 (1) (hr) of the statutes is created to read:

SB515,7,25 146.81 (1) (hr) A physician assistant licensed under ch. 461.

SB515,22 Section 22. 146.81 (1) (i) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,8,3 146.81 (1) (i) A partnership of any providers specified under pars. (a) to (hp) (hr).

SB515,23 Section 23. 146.81 (1) (j) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,8,6 146.81 (1) (j) A corporation or limited liability company of any providers specified under pars. (a) to (hp) (hr) that provides health care services.

SB515,24 Section 24. 146.82 (3) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,8,14 146.82 (3) (a) Notwithstanding sub. (1), a physician, physician assistant, as defined in s. 448.01 (6), or advanced practice nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16 (2) who treats a patient whose physical or mental condition in the physician's, physician assistant's, or advanced practice nurse prescriber's judgment affects the patient's ability to exercise reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle may report the patient's name and other information relevant to the condition to the department of transportation without the informed consent of the patient.

SB515,25 Section 25. 146.89 (1) (r) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,8,20 146.89 (1) (r) 1. Licensed as a physician under ch. 448, a dentist or dental hygienist under ch. 447, a registered nurse, practical nurse, or nurse-midwife under ch. 441, an optometrist under ch. 449, a physician assistant under ch. 448 461, a pharmacist under ch. 450, a chiropractor under ch. 446, a podiatrist under subch. IV of ch. 448, or a physical therapist under subch. III of ch. 448.

SB515,26 Section 26. 146.997 (1) (d) 5. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,8,24 146.997 (1) (d) 5. An occupational therapist, occupational therapy assistant, physician assistant or respiratory care practitioner licensed or certified under ch. 448.

SB515,27 Section 27. 146.997 (1) (d) 13m. of the statutes is created to read:

SB515,9,1 146.997 (1) (d) 13m. A physician assistant licensed under ch. 461.

SB515,28 Section 28. 155.01 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,9,13 155.01 (7) “Health care provider" means a nurse licensed or permitted under ch. 441, a chiropractor licensed under ch. 446, a dentist licensed under ch. 447, a physician, physician assistant, perfusionist, podiatrist, physical therapist, physical therapist assistant, occupational therapist, or occupational therapy assistant licensed under ch. 448, a person practicing Christian Science treatment, an optometrist licensed under ch. 449, a psychologist licensed under ch. 455, a physician assistant licensed under ch. 461, a partnership thereof, a corporation or limited liability company thereof that provides health care services, a cooperative health care association organized under s. 185.981 that directly provides services through salaried employees in its own facility, or a home health agency, as defined in s. 50.49 (1) (a).

SB515,29 Section 29. 180.1901 (1m) (h) of the statutes is created to read:

SB515,9,15 180.1901 (1m) (h) Physician assistant examining board under ch. 461.

SB515,30 Section 30. 252.01 (5) of the statutes is repealed.

SB515,31 Section 31. 252.15 (1) (am) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,9,20 252.15 (1) (am) “Health care professional" means a physician or physician assistant who is licensed under ch. 448 or, a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse who is licensed under ch. 441, or a physician assistant licensed under ch. 461.

SB515,32 Section 32. 252.15 (1) (ar) 1. of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,9,23 252.15 (1) (ar) 1. A person or entity that is specified in s. 146.81 (1) (a) to (hm), (hr), and (i) to (p).

SB515,33 Section 33. 255.07 (1) (d) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,10,3 255.07 (1) (d) “Health care practitioner" means a physician, a physician assistant licensed under s. 448.04 (1) (f), or an advanced practice nurse who is certified to issue prescription orders under s. 441.16.

SB515,34 Section 34. 255.07 (7) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,10,8 255.07 (7) Health care providers. Nothing in this section prohibits a health care provider, as defined in s. 146.81 (1) (a) to (hp) (hr) and (q) to (s), from acting within the scope of practice of the health care provider's license, certificate, permit, or registration.

SB515,35 Section 35. 257.01 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,10,15 257.01 (5) (a) An individual who is licensed as a physician, a physician assistant, or a podiatrist under ch. 448, licensed as a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or nurse-midwife under ch. 441, licensed as a dentist under ch. 447, licensed as a pharmacist under ch. 450, licensed as a physician assistant under ch. 461, licensed as a veterinarian or certified as a veterinary technician under ch. 89, or certified as a respiratory care practitioner under ch. 448.

SB515,36 Section 36. 257.01 (5) (b) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,10,25 257.01 (5) (b) An individual who was at any time within the previous 10 years, but is not currently, licensed as a physician, a physician assistant, or a podiatrist under ch. 448, licensed as a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse or nurse-midwife, under ch. 441, licensed as a dentist under ch. 447, licensed as a pharmacist under ch. 450, licensed as a physician assistant under ch. 461 or as a physician assistant under ch. 448, 2017 stats., licensed as a veterinarian or certified as a veterinary technician under ch. 89, or certified as a respiratory care practitioner under ch. 448, if the individual's license or certification was never revoked, limited, suspended, or denied renewal.

SB515,37 Section 37. 343.16 (5) (a) of the statutes is amended to read:

SB515,11,24 343.16 (5) (a) The secretary may require any applicant for a license or any licensed operator to submit to a special examination by such persons or agencies as the secretary may direct to determine incompetency, physical or mental disability, disease, or any other condition that might prevent such applicant or licensed person from exercising reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle. If the department requires the applicant to submit to an examination, the applicant shall pay for the examination. If the department receives an application for a renewal or duplicate license after voluntary surrender under s. 343.265 or receives a report from a physician, physician assistant, as defined in s. 448.01 (6), advanced practice nurse prescriber certified under s. 441.16 (2), or optometrist under s. 146.82 (3), or if the department has a report of 2 or more arrests within a one-year period for any combination of violations of s. 346.63 (1) or (5) or a local ordinance in conformity with s. 346.63 (1) or (5) or a law of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or band in this state in conformity with s. 346.63 (1) or (5), or s. 346.63 (1m), 1985 stats., or s. 346.63 (2) or (6) or 940.25, or s. 940.09 where the offense involved the use of a vehicle, the department shall determine, by interview or otherwise, whether the operator should submit to an examination under this section. The examination may consist of an assessment. If the examination indicates that education or treatment for a disability, disease or condition concerning the use of alcohol, a controlled substance or a controlled substance analog is appropriate, the department may order a driver safety plan in accordance with s. 343.30 (1q). If there is noncompliance with assessment or the driver safety plan, the department shall revoke the person's operating privilege in the manner specified in s. 343.30 (1q) (d).

SB515,38 Section 38. 440.035 (2m) (b) of the statutes is amended to read: