Legislative Update: Proposed Legislation Seeks to Expand Physician Assistants' Roles in Healthcare

A legislative package has been introduced that seeks to expand the scope of physician assistants (PAs) in healthcare. The four-bill package would allow PAs to participate in a licensure compact, change their title to physician associate, expand their and nurse practitioners’ role in mental healthcare, and allow PAs delegative authority. House Bill 5115 would give PAs the ability to delegate certain tasks to medical assistants and other members of the healthcare team. 

“If passed this bill would put patient safety at risk by allowing non-physicians the ability to manage other members of the healthcare team. Physicians receive extensive training and clinical experience, but eliminating them from this layer of oversight would remove a level of safety for patients,” said Jessica Heselschwerdt, MD, FAAFP, MAFP Advocacy Committee Chair. 

MAFP is meeting with members of the House Health Policy Committee to share these and other concerns with this legislation. 

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 31 into law late last week. As MAFP has reported, Senate Bill 31 will require all children to be tested for blood lead levels. Under current law, only children with Medicaid coverage are required to be tested. Testing intervals and reporting requirements established under the soon-to-take effect laws will align with the current Medicaid testing requirements. Reporting requirements will be placed on the facility conducting the test, and there should not be any additional administrative steps placed on the physician's office.

And save the date for the Michigan Family Medicine Advocacy Day scheduled March 20 in downtown Lansing.