Senator May’s Bill to Broaden Practice for Physician Assistants, signed by Governor Hochul

Dan Messineo

November 26, 2024

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Physician Assistant Bill Signed into Law
Expands Access to Healthcare for New York Patients

Senator Rachel May’s (Syracuse, Cayuga County) bill (S9038) that modifies physician assistant practice standards, empowering these healthcare professionals with more options to provide patient-centered care, was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul.

 

By enabling physician assistants to expand their scope, the law ensures that patients receive timely and effective treatment, particularly in underserved areas with limited healthcare resources. This change enhances the flexibility of healthcare delivery, ultimately benefiting New York communities.

 

This law allows physicians to supervise up to six physician assistants in outpatient and private practices, increasing the limit from four. This shift aligns with the proven standards of hospitals, leading to faster access to quality care and reducing wait times.

 

Physician assistants can now authorize registered nurses to provide non-patient-specific healthcare. For instance, they can issue orders for nurses to administer flu shots to targeted groups like college students.

 

Finally, physician assistants can now write inpatient orders for medical equipment. Also, the bill replaces the "doctor's" name with the "prescriber's" name on prescription records to ensure clarity and accuracy in medical documentation.

 

"Patients in my Senate District often face unacceptably long wait times for healthcare. Waiting for care can be frustrating and even life-threatening when someone is sick. This new law prioritizes patient-centered care by increasing the number of physician assistants in outpatient offices and expanding the types of care they can provide in consultation with their partner physicians. With these changes, we aim to ensure that patients needing treatment receive quality care and relief without long delays. Thank you to Assemblymember Amy Paulin for her hard work in moving this bill through the Assembly and Governor Hochul for her strong commitment to quality and timely healthcare across New York,” said Senator Rachel May.

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