Chapter 448

448.974(1)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), the board shall grant an initial license to practice as a physician assistant to any applicant who is found qualified by three-fourths of the members of the board and satisfies all of the following requirements, as determined by the board:

448.974(1)(a)1. 1. The applicant submits an application on a form provided by the department and pays the initial credential fee determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a).

448.974(1)(a)2. 2. The applicant is at least 18 years of age.

448.974(1)(a)3. 3. The applicant provides evidence of one of the following:

448.974(1)(a)3.a. a. That the applicant has successfully completed an educational program for physician assistants or physician associates that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or its successor or, prior to 2001, by the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation or the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs.

448.974(1)(a)3.b. b. If the applicant does not satisfy subd. 3. a., that the applicant, prior to January 1, 1986, successfully passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.

448.974(1)(a)4. 4. The applicant passes the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants examination or an equivalent national examination adopted by the board.

448.974(1)(a)5. 5. The applicant provides a listing with all employers, practice settings, internships, residencies, fellowships, and other employment for the past 7 years.

448.974(1)(a)6. 6. Subject to ss. 111.321, 111.322, and 111.335, the applicant does not have an arrest or conviction record.

448.974(1)(b) (b) Paragraph (a) 3. does not apply to an applicant if the applicant provides evidence that he or she is licensed as a physician assistant or physician associate in another state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and the board determines that the requirements for obtaining the license in that state or territory are substantially equivalent to the requirements under par. (a).

448.974(1m) (1m) The board shall grant a compact privilege to any applicant who satisfies all of the following:

448.974(1m)(a) (a) The applicant holds a qualifying license, as defined in s. 448.988 (2) (r), in another state that is a party to the compact and satisfies all other requirements under s. 448.988 (4).

448.974(1m)(b) (b) The individual applies for the compact privilege in the manner prescribed by the department.

448.974(1m)(c) (c) The individual pays any fee established by the department under s. 448.9885 (2).

448.974(2) (2) 

448.974(2)(am) (am)

448.974(2)(am)1. 1. The renewal date for a license issued under this subchapter is specified under s. 440.08 (2) (a), and the renewal fees for such licenses are determined by the department under s. 440.03 (9) (a). Renewal of a license is subject to subd. 2.

448.974(2)(am)2. 2. An applicant for the renewal of a license under this subchapter shall submit with his or her application for renewal proof of having satisfied the continuing education requirements imposed by the board under s. 448.973 (1) (b). This subdivision does not apply to an applicant for renewal of a license that expires on the first renewal date after the date on which the board initially granted the license.

448.974(2)(bm) (bm) Renewal of a compact privilege shall be governed by s. 448.988 (4) (b), except that the board may impose requirements for prescribing controlled substances in accordance with s. 448.988 (4) (d).

448.974(3) (3) Notwithstanding sub. (1), an individual who, on April 1, 2022, was licensed by the medical examining board as a physician assistant under subch. II of ch. 448, 2019 stats., shall be considered to have been licensed under sub. (1) for purposes of this subchapter.

448.974 History History: 2021 a. 23; 2023 a. 81.

448.975 448.975 Practice and employment.

448.975(1) (1) 

448.975(1)(a) (a) Subject to the limitations and requirements under sub. (2); the physician assistant’s experience, education, and training; and any rules promulgated under sub. (5), a physician assistant may do any of the following:

448.975(1)(a)1. 1. Examine into the fact, condition, or cause of human health or disease, or treat, operate, prescribe, or advise for the same, by any means or instrumentality.

448.975(1)(a)2. 2. Apply principles or techniques of medical sciences in the diagnosis or prevention of any of the conditions described in subd. 1. and in s. 448.971 (2).

448.975(1)(a)3. 3. Penetrate, pierce, or sever the tissues of a human being.

448.975(1)(a)4. 4. Offer, undertake, attempt, or hold himself or herself out in any manner as able to do any of the acts described in this paragraph.

448.975(1)(b) (b)

448.975(1)(b)1. 1. Subject to subd. 2. and any rules promulgated by the board and consistent with his or her experience, education, and training, a physician assistant may order, prescribe, procure, dispense, and administer prescription drugs, medical devices, services, and supplies.

448.975(1)(b)2. 2. A physician assistant practicing under the supervision and direction of a podiatrist under sub. (2) (a) 2m. may issue a prescription order for a drug or device in accordance with guidelines established by the supervising podiatrist and the physician assistant and with rules promulgated by the board. If any conflict exists between the guidelines and the rules, the rules shall control.

448.975(1)(c) (c) A physician assistant may practice in ambulatory care, acute care, long-term care, home care, or other settings as a primary, specialty, or surgical care provider who may serve as a patient’s primary care provider or specialty care provider.

448.975(2) (2) 

448.975(2)(a) (a)

448.975(2)(a)1. 1. Except as provided in subds. 2m. and 3. and sub. (5) (a) 1. a. or b., a physician assistant who provides care to patients shall maintain and provide to the board upon request one of the following:

448.975(2)(a)1.a. a. 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. In this subd. 1. a., “employment” includes an arrangement between the physician assistant and a 3rd party in which the 3rd party receives payment for services provided by the physician assistant.

448.975(2)(a)1.b. b. A written collaborative agreement with a physician that, subject to subd. 1m., describes the physician assistant’s individual scope of practice, that includes a protocol for identifying an alternative collaborating physician for situations in which the collaborating physician or the physician’s designee is not available for consultation, and that includes other information as required by the board.

448.975(2)(a)1m. 1m. All of the following apply to a written collaborative agreement between a physician and physician assistant under subd. 1. b.:

448.975(2)(a)1m.a. a. The agreement may be terminated by either party by providing written notice at least 30 days prior to the date of termination, or as otherwise agreed to by the physician and physician assistant.

448.975(2)(a)1m.b. b. The agreement shall specify that the collaborating physician shall remain reasonably available to the physician assistant through the use of telecommunications or other electronic means within a medically appropriate time frame and that the collaborating physician may designate an alternate collaborator during periods of unavailability.

448.975(2)(a)1m.c. c. The agreement shall specify an arrangement for physician consultation with the patient within a medically appropriate time frame for consultation, if requested by the patient or the physician assistant.

448.975(2)(a)1m.d. d. The agreement shall be signed by the physician assistant and the collaborating physician.

448.975(2)(a)2. 2. Subdivision 1. does not require the physical presence of a physician at the time and place a physician assistant renders a service.

448.975(2)(a)2m. 2m. A physician assistant may practice under the supervision and direction of a podiatrist. A physician assistant who is practicing under the supervision and direction of a podiatrist shall be limited to providing nonsurgical patient services. Subdivision 1. does not apply to a physician assistant who is practicing under the supervision and direction of a podiatrist.

448.975(2)(a)3. 3. Subdivision 1. does not apply with respect to a physician assistant who is employed by the federal government as a civilian or member of the uniformed services while performing duties incident to that employment or service.

448.975(2)(b) (b) A physician assistant shall limit his or her practice to the scope of his or her experience, education, and training.

448.975(2)(c) (c) No physician assistant may provide medical care, except routine screening and emergency care, in any of the following:

448.975(2)(c)1. 1. The practice of dentistry, dental therapy, or dental hygiene within the meaning of ch. 447.

448.975(2)(c)2. 2. The practice of optometry within the meaning of ch. 449.

448.975(2)(c)3. 3. The practice of chiropractic within the meaning of ch. 446.

448.975(2)(c)4. 4. The practice of acupuncture within the meaning of ch. 451.

448.975(2)(c)5. 5. The practice of podiatry, except when the physician assistant is acting under the supervision and direction of a podiatrist, subject to par. (a) 2m. and the rules promulgated under s. 448.695 (4).

448.975(3) (3) 

448.975(3)(a) (a) It shall be the obligation of a physician assistant to ensure all of the following:

448.975(3)(a)1. 1. That the scope of the practice of the physician assistant is identified and is appropriate with respect to his or her experience, education, and training.

448.975(3)(a)2. 2. For purposes of sub. (2) (a) 1. b., that the relationship with and access to a collaborating physician by the physician assistant is defined.

448.975(3)(a)3. 3. That the requirements and standards of licensure under this subchapter are complied with.

448.975(3)(a)4. 4. That consultation with or referral to other licensed health care providers with a scope of practice appropriate for a patient’s care needs occurs when the patient’s care needs exceed the physician assistant’s experience, education, or training. A physician assistant shall ensure that he or she has awareness of options for the management of situations that are beyond the physician assistant’s expertise.

448.975(3)(b) (b) A physician assistant is individually and independently responsible for the quality of the care he or she renders.

448.975(4) (4) A physician assistant may delegate a care task or order to another clinically trained health care worker if the physician assistant is competent to perform the delegated task or order and has reasonable evidence that the clinically trained health care worker is minimally competent to perform the task or issue the order under the circumstances.

448.975(5) (5) 

448.975(5)(a) (a)

448.975(5)(a)1. 1. The board shall, subject to subd. 2. and s. 448.695 (4), promulgate any rules necessary to implement this section, including rules to do any of the following:

448.975(5)(a)1.a. a. Allow for temporary practice, specifically defined and actively monitored by the board, in the event of an interruption of a collaborative relationship under sub. (2) (a) 1. b.

448.975(5)(a)1.b. b. Allow a physician assistant, in the absence of an employment or collaborative relationship under sub. (2) (a) 1., to provide medical care at the scene of an emergency, during a declared state of emergency or other disaster, or when volunteering at sporting events or at camps.

448.975(5)(a)2. 2. Rules promulgated by the board may not permit a broader scope of practice than that which may be exercised in accordance with subs. (1) and (2). Notwithstanding s. 15.085 (5) (b) 2., if the Medical Examining Board reasonably determines that a rule submitted to it by the Physician Assistant Affiliated Credentialing Board under s. 15.085 (5) (b) 1. permits a broader scope of practice than that which may be exercised in accordance with subs. (1) and (2), then the Physician Assistant Examining Board shall, prior to submitting the proposed rule to the legislative council staff under s. 227.15 (1), revise the proposed rule so that it does not exceed or permit a broader scope of practice than that which may be exercised in accordance with subs. (1) and (2).

448.975(5)(b) (b) The board shall develop and recommend to the podiatry affiliated credentialing board practice standards for physician assistants practicing under podiatrists under sub. (2) (a) 2m.

448.975(6) (6) The practice permissions provided in this section are permissions granted by the state authorizing the licensed practice of physician assistants. Nothing in this section prohibits an employer, hospital, health plan, or other similar entity employing or with a relationship with a physician assistant from establishing additional requirements for a physician assistant as a condition of employment or relationship.

448.975 History History: 2021 a. 23; 2023 a. 87.

448.976 448.976 Civil liability. No physician assistant shall be liable for any civil damages for either of the following:

448.976(1) (1) Reporting in good faith to the department of transportation under s. 146.82 (3) a patient’s name and other information relevant to a physical or mental condition of the patient that in the physician assistant’s judgment impairs the patient’s ability to exercise reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle.

448.976(2) (2) In good faith, not reporting to the department of transportation under s. 146.82 (3) a patient’s name and other information relevant to a physical or mental condition of the patient that in the physician assistant’s judgment does not impair the patient’s ability to exercise reasonable and ordinary control over a motor vehicle.

448.976 History History: 2021 a. 23.

448.977 448.977 Malpractice liability insurance.

448.977(1) (1) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), no physician assistant may practice as authorized under s. 448.975 unless he or she has in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage evidenced by one of the following:

448.977(1)(a) (a) Personal liability coverage in the amounts specified for health care providers under s. 655.23 (4).

448.977(1)(b) (b) Coverage under a group liability policy providing individual coverage for the physician assistant in the amounts under s. 655.23 (4).

448.977(2) (2) The board may promulgate rules requiring a practicing physician assistant to have in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage in amounts greater than those specified in sub. (1) (a) or (b) or (4). If the board promulgates rules under this subsection, no physician assistant may practice as authorized under s. 448.975 unless he or she has in effect malpractice liability insurance coverage as required under those rules, except as provided in sub. (3).

448.977(3) (3) A physician assistant who is a state, county, or municipal employee, or federal employee or contractor covered under the federal tort claims act, as amended, and who is acting within the scope of his or her employment or contractual duties is not required to maintain in effect malpractice insurance coverage.

448.977(4) (4) Except as provided in subs. (2) and (3), a physician assistant may comply with sub. (1) if the physician assistant’s employer has in effect malpractice liability insurance that is at least the minimum amount specified under s. 655.23 (4) and that provides coverage for claims against the physician assistant.

448.977 History History: 2021 a. 23.

448.978 448.978 Professional discipline.

448.978(1g) (1g) In this section:

448.978(1g)(a) (a) “Unprofessional conduct” includes a determination made by a physician assistant under ch. 154 or 155 if the physician assistant does not have sufficient education, training, and experience to make the determination.

448.978(1g)(b) (b) “Unprofessional conduct” does not include any of the following:

448.978(1g)(b)1. 1. Providing expedited partner therapy as described in s. 448.9725.

448.978(1g)(b)2. 2. Prescribing or delivering an opioid antagonist in accordance with s. 448.9727 (2).

448.978(1r) (1r) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), the board may conduct investigations and hearings to determine whether a person has violated this subchapter or a rule promulgated under this subchapter.

448.978(2) (2) Subject to the rules promulgated under s. 440.03 (1), if a person who applies for or holds a license or compact privilege issued under s. 448.974 does any of the following, the board may reprimand the person or deny, limit, suspend, or revoke the person’s license or compact privilege: