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7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This bill changes the definition of a supervising physician to allow a physician assistant
10 to be supervised by a podiatric physician.
11 Highlighted Provisions:
12 This bill:
13 ▸ changes the definition of a supervising physician to allow a physician assistant to be
14 supervised by a podiatric physician; and
15 ▸ makes technical changes.
16 Money Appropriated in this Bill:
17 None
18 Other Special Clauses:
19 None
20 Utah Code Sections Affected:
21 AMENDS:
22 58-70a-102, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2017, Chapter 309
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24 Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
25 Section 1. Section 58-70a-102 is amended to read:
26 58-70a-102. Definitions.
27 [
28 (1) "Board" means the Physician Assistant Licensing Board created in Section
29 58-70a-201.
30 (2) (a) "Delegation of services agreement" means written criteria jointly developed by a
31 physician assistant and the physician assistant's supervising physician and, if applicable, the
32 physician assistant's substitute supervising physicians [
33 a physician assistant, working under the direction or review of the supervising physician, to
34 assist in the management of common illnesses and injuries.
35 (b) The agreement defines the working relationship and delegation of duties between
36 the supervising physician and the physician assistant as specified by division rule and shall
37 include:
38 (i) the prescribing of controlled substances;
39 (ii) the degree and means of supervision;
40 (iii) the frequency and mechanism of quality review, including the mechanism for
41 review of patient data and documentation of the review, as determined by the supervising
42 physician and the physician assistant;
43 (iv) procedures addressing situations outside the scope of practice of the physician
44 assistant; and
45 (v) procedures for providing backup for the physician assistant in emergency situations.
46 (3) "Direct supervision" means the supervising physician is:
47 (a) physically present at the point of patient treatment on site where the physician
48 assistant [
49 (b) immediately available for consultation with the physician assistant.
50 (4) "Practice as a physician assistant" means:
51 (a) the professional activities and conduct of a physician assistant, also known as a PA,
52 in diagnosing, treating, advising, or prescribing for any human disease, ailment, injury,
53 infirmity, deformity, pain, or other condition, dependent upon and under the supervision of a
54 supervising physician or substitute supervising physician in accordance with a delegation of
55 services agreement; and
56 (b) the physician assistant acts as the agent of the supervising physician or substitute
57 supervising physician when acting in accordance with a delegation of services agreement.
58 (5) "Substitute supervising physician" means an individual who meets the requirements
59 of a supervising physician under this chapter and acts as the supervising physician in the
60 absence of the supervising physician.
61 (6) "Supervising physician" means an individual who:
62 (a) is currently licensed to practice under:
63 (i) Title 58, Chapter 67, Utah Medical Practice Act[
64 (ii) Title 58, Chapter 68, Utah Osteopathic Medical Practice Act; or
65 (iii) Title 58, Chapter 5a, Podiatric Physician Licensing Act;
66 (b) acts as the primary supervisor of a physician assistant and takes responsibility for
67 the professional practice and conduct of a physician assistant in accordance with this chapter;
68 and
69 (c) is not an employee of the physician assistant whom the individual supervises.
70 (7) "Supervision" means the supervising physician is available for consultation with
71 the physician assistant, either personally or by other means permitting direct verbal
72 communication between the physician and the physician assistant.
73 (8) "Unlawful conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-70a-502.
74 (9) "Unprofessional conduct" is as defined in Sections 58-1-501 and 58-70a-503 and as
75 may be further defined by rule.
Legislative Review Note
Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel