WEST virginia Legislature

2017 FIRST EXTRAORDINARY session

Introduced

House Bill 116

By Mr. Speaker (Mr. Armstead) and Delegate Miley
(by Request of the Executive)

[Introduced May 23, 2017; Referred
to the Committee on Health and Human Resources.]

A BILL to repeal §30-3E-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; to amend and reenact §16-5-19 of said code; to amend and reenact §30-3-5 of said code; to amend and reenact §30-3E-1, §30-3E-2, §30-3E-3, §30-3E-4, §30-3E-6, §30-3E-7, §30-3E-9, §30-3E-10, §30-3E-11, §30-3E-12, §30-3E-15, §30-3E-16 and §30-3E-17 of said code; to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-3E-12a; and to amend and reenact §33-15-14 of said code, all relating to physician assistants; modifying board membership; substituting “collaborating physician” for “supervising physician”; defining terms; modifying the prescriptive authority of physician assistants; eliminating certain recertification requirements; eliminating the continuous national certification requirement; prohibiting an insurance plan from limiting the practice of physician assistants; adding requirements for  practice agreements; granting physician assistants signatory authority on certain forms; and making conforming amendments.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:

That §30-3E-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be repealed; that §16-5-19 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §30-3-5 of said code be amended and reenacted; that §30-3E-1, §30-3E-2, §30-3E-3, §30-3E-4, §30-3E-6, §30-3E-7, §30-3E-9, §30-3E-10, §30-3E-11, §30-3E-12, §30-3E-15, §30-3E-16 and §30-3E-17 of said code be amended and reenacted; that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §30-3E-12a; and that §33-15-14 of said code be amended and reenacted, all to read as follows:

CHAPTER 16. PUBLIC HEALTH.

ARTICLE 5. VITAL STATISTICS.

§16-5-19. Death registration.

(a) A certificate of death for each death which occurs in this state shall be filed with the section of vital statistics, or as otherwise directed by the state Registrar, within five days after death, and prior to final disposition, and shall be registered if it has been completed and filed in accordance with this section.

(1) If the place of death is unknown, but the dead body is found in this state, the place where the body was found shall be shown as the place of death.

(2) If the date of death is unknown, it shall be approximated. If the date cannot be approximated, the date found shall be shown as the date of death.

(3) If death occurs in a moving conveyance in the United States and the body is first removed from the conveyance in this state, the death shall be registered in this state and the place where it is first removed shall be considered the place of death.

(4) If death occurs in a moving conveyance while in international waters or air space or in a foreign country or its air space and the body is first removed from the conveyance in this state, the death shall be registered in this state but the certificate shall show the actual place of death insofar as can be determined.

(5) In all other cases, the place where death is pronounced shall be considered the place where death occurred.

(b) The funeral director or other person who assumes custody of the dead body shall:

(1) Obtain the personal data from the next of kin or the best qualified person or source available including the deceased person's social security number or numbers, which shall be placed in the records relating to the death and recorded on the certificate of death;

(2) Within forty-eight hours after death, provide the certificate of death containing sufficient information to identify the decedent to the physician nurse responsible for completing the medical certification as provided in subsection (c) of this section; and

(3) Upon receipt of the medical certification, file the certificate of death: Provided, That for implementation of electronic filing of death certificates, the person who certifies to cause of death will be responsible for filing the electronic certification of cause of death as directed by the state Registrar and in accordance with legislative rule.

(c) The medical certification shall be completed and signed within twenty-four hours after receipt of the certificate of death by the physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse in charge of the patient's care for the illness or condition which resulted in death except when inquiry is required pursuant to chapter sixty-one, article twelve or other applicable provisions of this code.

(1) In the absence of the physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse or with his or her approval, the certificate may be completed by his or her associate physician, any physician who has been placed in a position of responsibility for any medical coverage of the decedent, the chief medical officer of the institution in which death occurred, or the physician who performed an autopsy upon the decedent, provided inquiry is not required pursuant to chapter sixty-one, article twelve of this code.

(2) The person completing the cause of death shall attest to its accuracy either by signature or by an approved electronic process.

(d) When inquiry is required pursuant to article twelve, chapter sixty-one, or other applicable provisions of this code, the state Medical Examiner or designee or county medical examiner or county coroner in the jurisdiction where the death occurred or where the body was found shall determine the cause of death and shall complete the medical certification within forty-eight hours after taking charge of the case.

(1) If the cause of death cannot be determined within forty-eight hours after taking charge of the case, the medical examiner shall complete the medical certification with a "Pending" cause of death to be amended upon completion of medical investigation.

(2) After investigation of a report of death for which inquiry is required, if the state Medical Examiner or designee or county medical examiner or county coroner decline jurisdiction, the state Medical Examiner or designee or county medical examiner or county coroner may direct the decedent's family physician or the physician who pronounces death to complete the certification of death: Provided, That the physician is not civilly liable for inaccuracy or other incorrect statement of death unless the physician willfully and knowingly provides information he or she knows to be false.

(e) When death occurs in an institution and the person responsible for the completion of the medical certification is not available to pronounce death, another physician may pronounce death. If there is no physician available to pronounce death, then a designated licensed health professional who views the body may pronounce death, attest to the pronouncement by signature or an approved electronic process and, with the permission of the person responsible for the medical certification, release the body to the funeral director or other person for final disposition: Provided, That if the death occurs in an institution during court-ordered hospitalization, in a correctional facility or under custody of law-enforcement authorities, the death shall be reported directly to a medical examiner or coroner for investigation, pronouncement and certification.

(f) If the cause of death cannot be determined within the time prescribed, the medical certification shall be completed as provided by legislative rule. The attending physician or medical examiner, upon request, shall give the funeral director or other person assuming custody of the body notice of the reason for the delay, and final disposition of the body may not be made until authorized by the attending physician, medical examiner or other persons authorized by this article to certify the cause of death.

(g) Upon receipt of autopsy results, additional scientific study, or where further inquiry or investigation provides additional information that would change the information on the certificate of death from that originally reported, the certifier, or any State Medical Examiner who provides such inquiry under authority of article twelve, chapter sixty-one of this code shall immediately file a supplemental report of cause of death or other information with the section of vital statistics to amend the record, but only for purposes of accuracy.

(h) When death is presumed to have occurred within this state but the body cannot be located, a certificate of death may be prepared by the state Registrar only upon receipt of an order of a court of competent jurisdiction which shall include the finding of facts required to complete the certificate of death. The certificate of death will be marked "Presumptive" and will show on its face the date of death as determined by the court and the date of registration, and shall identify the court and the date of the order.

(i) The local registrar shall transmit each month to the county clerk of his or her county a copy of the certificates of all deaths occurring in the county, and if any person dies in a county other than the county within the state in which the person last resided prior to death, then the state Registrar shall furnish a copy of the death certificate to the clerk of the county commission of the county where the person last resided, from which copies the clerk shall compile a register of deaths, in a form prescribed by the state Registrar. The register shall be a public record.

CHAPTER 30. PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS.

ARTICLE 3. WEST VIRGINIA MEDICAL PRACTICE ACT.

§30-3-5. West Virginia Board of Medicine powers and duties continued; appointment and terms of members; vacancies; removal.

The West Virginia Board of Medicine has assumed, carried on and succeeded to all the duties, rights, powers, obligations and liabilities heretofore belonging to or exercised by the Medical Licensing Board of West Virginia. All the rules, orders, rulings, licenses, certificates, permits and other acts and undertakings of the medical licensing board of West Virginia as heretofore constituted have continued as those of the West Virginia Board of Medicine until they expired or were amended, altered or revoked. The board remains the sole authority for the issuance of licenses to practice medicine and surgery and to practice podiatry and to practice as physician assistants in this state under the supervision of physicians licensed under this article. The board shall continue to be a regulatory and disciplinary body for the practice of medicine and surgery and the practice of podiatry and for physician assistants in this state.

The board shall consist of fifteen sixteen members. One member shall be the state health officer ex officio, with the right to vote as a member of the board. The other fourteen fifteen members shall be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate. Eight of the members shall be appointed from among individuals holding the degree of doctor of medicine and two shall hold the degree of doctor of podiatric medicine. One member shall be an individual licensed by the board as a physician assistant Two members shall be physician assistants licensed by the board. Each of these members must be duly licensed to practice his or her profession in this state on the date of appointment and must have been licensed and actively practicing that profession for at least five years immediately preceding the date of appointment. Three lay members shall be appointed to represent health care consumers. Neither the lay members nor any person of the lay members' immediate families shall be a provider of or be employed by a provider of health care services. The state health officer's term shall continue for the period that he or she holds office as state health officer. Each other member of the board shall be appointed to serve a term of five years: Provided, That the members of the Board of Medicine holding appointments on the effective date of this section shall continue to serve as members of the Board of Medicine until the expiration of their term unless sooner removed. Each term shall begin on October 1 of the applicable year, and a member may not be appointed to more than two consecutive full terms on the board.

A person is not eligible for membership on the board who is a member of any political party executive committee or, with the exception of the state health officer, who holds any public office or public employment under the federal government or under the government of this state or any political subdivision thereof.

In making appointments to the board, the Governor shall, so far as practicable, select the members from different geographical sections of the state. When a vacancy on the board occurs and less than one year remains in the unexpired term, the appointee shall be eligible to serve the remainder of the unexpired term and two consecutive full terms on the board.

No member may be removed from office by the Governor except for official misconduct, incompetence, neglect of duty or gross immorality: Provided, That the expiration, surrender or revocation of the professional license by the board of a member of the board shall cause the membership to immediately and automatically terminate.

ARTICLE 3E. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS PRACTICE ACT.

§30-3E-1. Definitions.

As used in this article:

(1) "Advance duties" means medical acts that require additional training beyond the basic education program training required for licensure as a physician assistant.

(2) "Alternate supervising collaborating physician" means one or more physicians licensed in this state and designated by the supervising collaborating physician to provide supervision of collaboration with a physician assistant in accordance with an authorized practice agreement.

(3) "Approved program" means an educational program for physician assistants approved and accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or its successor. Prior to 2001, approval and accreditation would have been by either the Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation or the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant.

(4) "Boards" means the West Virginia Board of Medicine and the West Virginia Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

(5) "Chronic condition" means a condition which lasts three months or more, generally cannot be prevented by vaccines, can be controlled but not cured by medication and does not generally disappear. These conditions include, but are not limited to, arthritis, asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy and seizures and obesity.

(6) “Collaborating physician” means a doctor of medicine, osteopathy or podiatry fully licensed, by the appropriate board in this state, without restriction or limitation, who collaborates with physician assistants.

(7) “Collaboration” means overseeing the activities of, and accepting responsibility for, the medical services rendered by a physician assistant. Constant physical presence of the collaborating physician is not required as long as the collaborating physician and physician assistant are, or can be, easily in contact with one another by telecommunication. Collaboration does not require the personal presence of the collaborating physician at the place or places where services are rendered.

(6) (8) "Endorsement" means a summer camp or volunteer endorsement authorized under this article.

(7) (9) "Health care facility" means any licensed hospital, nursing home, extended care facility, state health or mental institution, clinic or physician's office.

(8) (10) "Hospital" means a facility licensed pursuant to article five-b, chapter sixteen of this code, and any acute-care facility operated by the state government that primarily provides inpatient diagnostic, treatment or rehabilitative services to injured, disabled or sick persons under the supervision of physicians and includes psychiatric hospitals.

(9) (11) "License" means a license issued by either of the boards pursuant to the provisions of this article.

(10) (12) "Licensee" means a person licensed pursuant to the provisions of this article.

(11) (13) "Physician" means a doctor of allopathic or osteopathic medicine who is fully licensed pursuant to the provisions of either article three or article fourteen of this chapter to practice medicine and surgery in this state.

(12) (14) "Physician assistant" means a person who meets the qualifications set forth in this article and is licensed pursuant to this article to practice medicine under supervision collaboration.

(13) (15) "Practice Agreement" means a document that is executed between a supervising collaborating physician and a physician assistant pursuant to the provisions of this article, and is filed with and approved by the appropriate licensing board.

(14) "Supervising physician" means a doctor of medicine, osteopathy or podiatry fully licensed, by the appropriate board in this state, without restriction or limitation, who supervises physician assistants.

(15) "Supervision" means overseeing the activities of, and accepting responsibility for, the medical services rendered by a physician assistant. Constant physical presence of the supervising physician is not required as long as the supervising physician and physician assistant are, or can be, easily in contact with one another by telecommunication. Supervision does not require the personal presence of the supervising physician at the place or places where services are rendered if the physician assistant's normal place of employment is the same premises as the supervising physician.

§30-3E-2. Powers and duties of the boards.

In addition to the powers and duties set forth in this code for the boards, the boards shall:

(1) Establish the requirements for licenses and temporary licenses pursuant to this article;

(2) Establish the procedures for submitting, approving and rejecting applications for licenses and temporary licenses;

(3) Propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this article;

(4) Compile and publish an annual report that includes a list of currently licensed physician assistants, their supervising collaborating physicians and their locations in the state; and

(5) Take all other actions necessary and proper to effectuate the purposes of this article.

§30-3E-3. Rulemaking.

(a) The boards shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this article, including:

(1) The extent to which physician assistants may practice in this state;

(2) The extent to which physician assistants may pronounce death;

(3) Requirements for licenses and temporary licenses;

(4) Requirements for practice agreements;

(5) Requirements for continuing education;

(6) Conduct of a licensee for which discipline may be imposed;

(7) The eligibility and extent to which a physician assistant may prescribe at the direction of his or her supervising collaborating physician, including the following:

(A) A list of drugs and pharmacologic categories, or both, the prescription of which may not be delegated to a physician assistant, including all drugs listed in Schedules I and II of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, antineoplastic and chemotherapeutic agents, or both, used in the active treatment of current cancer, radiopharmaceuticals, general anesthetics, radiographic contrast materials and any other limitation or exclusions of specific drugs or categories of drugs as determined by the boards;

(B) Authority to include, in a practice agreement, the delegation of prescribing authority for up to a 72-hour supply of drugs listed under Schedule III of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act so long as the prescription is nonrefillable and an annual supply of any drug, with the exception of controlled substances, which is prescribed for the treatment of a chronic condition, other than chronic pain management, with the chronic condition being treated identified on the prescription; and

(C) A description of the education and training requirements for a physician assistant to be eligible to receive delegated prescriptive writing authority as part of a practice agreement;

a state formulary classifying those categories of drugs which shall not be prescribed by a physician assistant including, but not limited to, Schedules I and II of the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, antineoplastics, radiopharmaceuticals and general anesthetics. Drugs listed under Schedule III shall be limited to a thirty-day supply without refill. In addition to the above referenced provisions and restrictions and pursuant to a practice agreement as set forth in this article, the rules shall permit the prescribing of an annual supply of any drug, with the exception of controlled substances, which is prescribed for the treatment of a chronic condition, other than chronic pain management. For the purposes of this section, a chronic condition is a condition which lasts three months or more, generally cannot be prevented by vaccines, can be controlled but not cured by medication and does not generally disappear. These conditions, with the exception of chronic pain, include, but are not limited to, arthritis, asthma, cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, epilepsy and seizures, and obesity;

(8) The authority a supervising collaborating physician may delegate for prescribing, dispensing and administering of controlled substances, prescription drugs or medical devices if the practice agreement includes:

(A) A notice of intent to delegate prescribing of controlled substances, prescription drugs or medical devices;

(B) An attestation that all prescribing activities of the physician assistant shall comply with applicable federal and state law governing the practice of physician assistants;

(C) An attestation that all medical charts or records shall contain a notation of any prescriptions written by a physician assistant;

(D) An attestation that all prescriptions shall include the physician assistant's name and the supervising physician's name, business address and business telephone number legibly written or printed; and

(E) An attestation that the physician assistant has successfully completed each of the requirements established by the appropriate board to be eligible to prescribe pursuant to a practice agreement accompanied by the production of any required documentation establishing eligibility;

(9) A fee schedule; and

(10) Any other rules necessary to effectuate the provisions of this article.

(b) The boards may propose emergency rules pursuant to article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to ensure conformity with this article.

§30-3E-4. License to practice as a physician assistant.

(a) A person seeking licensure as a physician assistant shall apply to the Board of Medicine or to the Board of Osteopathic Medicine. The appropriate board shall issue a license to practice as a physician assistant under the supervision with the collaboration of that board's licensed physicians or podiatrists.

(b) A license may be granted to a person who:

(1) Files a complete application;

(2) Pays the applicable fees;

(3) Demonstrates to the board's satisfaction that he or she:

(A) Obtained a baccalaureate or master's degree from an accredited program of instruction for physician assistants;

(B) Prior to July 1, 1994, graduated from an approved program of instruction in primary health care or surgery; or

(C) Prior to July 1, 1983, was certified by the board of Medicine as a physician assistant then classified as "Type B";

(4) Has passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants;

(5) Has a current certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants;

(6) Is mentally and physically able to engage safely in practice as a physician assistant;

(7) Has not had a physician assistant license, certification or registration in any jurisdiction suspended or revoked;

(8) Is not currently subject to any limitation, restriction, suspension, revocation or discipline concerning a physician assistant license, certification or registration in any jurisdiction: Provided, That if a board is made aware of any problems with a physician assistant license, certification or registration and agrees to issue a license, certification or registration notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision or subdivision (7) of this subsection;

(9) Is of good moral character; and

(10) Has fulfilled any other requirement specified by the appropriate board.

(c) A board may deny an application for a physician assistant license to any applicant determined to be unqualified by the board.

§30-3E-6. License renewal requirements.

(a) A licensee shall renew biennially, on a schedule established by the appropriate licensing board, by submitting:

(1) A complete renewal application;

(2) The renewal fee; and

(3) Proof that he or she is currently certified and has been continuously certified during the preceding licensure period by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants; and

(4) (3) An attestation that all continuing education requirements for the reporting period have been met.

(b) If a licensee fails to timely renew his or her license, then the license automatically expires.

§30-3E-7. Expired license requirements.

(a) If a license automatically expires and reinstatement is sought within one year of the automatic expiration, then an applicant shall submit:

(1) A complete reinstatement application;

(2) The applicable fees;

(3) Proof that he or she is currently certified and has been continuously certified during the preceding licensure period and expiration period by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants has passed Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination; and

(4) An attestation that all continuing education requirements have been met.

(b) If a license automatically expires and more than one year has passed since the automatic expiration, then an applicant shall apply for a new license.

§30-3E-9. Practice requirements.

(a) A physician assistant may not practice independent of a supervising collaborating physician.

(b) Before a licensed physician assistant may practice and before a supervising physician may delegate medical acts to a physician assistant, the supervising collaborating physician and the physician assistant shall:

(1) File a practice agreement with the appropriate licensing board, including any designated alternate supervising physicians;

(2) Pay the applicable fees; and

(3) Receive written authorization from the appropriate licensing board to commence practicing as a physician assistant pursuant to the practice agreement.

(c) A physician applying to supervise collaborate with a physician assistant shall affirm that:

(1) The medical services set forth in the practice agreement are consistent with the skills and training of the supervising collaborating physician and the physician assistant; and

(2) The activities delegated to a physician assistant are consistent with sound medical practice and will protect the health and safety of the patient.

(d) A supervising collaborating physician may enter into practice agreements with up to five full-time physician assistants at any one time. A physician is prohibited from being a supervising collaborating or alternate supervising collaborating physician to more than five physician assistants at any one time. However, a physician practicing medicine in an emergency department of a hospital or a physician who supervises a physician assistant who is employed by or on behalf of a hospital may provide supervision for up to five physician assistants per shift if the physician has an authorized practice agreement in place with the supervised physician assistant or the physician has been properly authorized as an alternate supervising collaborating physician for each physician assistant.

§30-3E-10. Practice agreement requirements.

(a) A practice agreement shall include:

(1) A description of the qualifications of the supervising collaborating physician, the alternate supervising collaborating physicians, if applicable, and the physician assistant;

(2) A description of the settings in which the supervising collaborating physician assistant will practice;

(3) A description of the continuous physician supervision collaboration mechanisms that are reasonable and appropriate for the practice setting, and the experience and training of the physician assistant;

(4) A description of the medical acts that are to be delegated;

(5) An attestation by the supervising collaborating physician that the medical acts to be delegated are:

(A) Within the supervising collaborating physician's scope of practice; and

(B) Appropriate to the physician assistant's education, training and level of competence;

(6) A description of the medical care the physician assistant will provide in an emergency, including a definition of an emergency; and

(7) A description of the limitation of the ability of the physician assistant to prescribe as set forth in subdivision (7), subsection (a), section three of this article; and

(7) (8) Any other information required by the boards.

(b) A licensing board may:

(1) Decline to authorize a physician assistant to commence practicing pursuant to a practice agreement, if the board determines that:

(A) The practice agreement is inadequate; or

(B) The physician assistant is unable to perform the proposed delegated duties safely; or

(2) Request additional information from the supervising collaborating physician and/or the physician assistant to evaluate the delegation of duties and advanced duties.

(c) A licensing board may authorize a practice agreement that includes advanced duties which are to be performed in a hospital or ambulatory surgical facility, if the practice agreement has a certification that:

(1) A physician, with credentials that have been reviewed by the hospital or ambulatory surgical facility as a condition of employment as an independent contractor or as a member of the medical staff, supervises collaborates with the physician assistant;

(2) The physician assistant has credentials that have been reviewed by the hospital or ambulatory surgical facility as a condition of employment as an independent contractor or as a member of the medical staff; and

(3) Each advanced duty to be delegated to the physician assistant is reviewed and approved within a process approved by the governing body of the health care facility or ambulatory surgical facility before the physician assistant performs the advanced duties.

(d) If a licensing board declines to authorize a practice agreement or any proposed delegated act incorporated therein, the board shall provide the supervising collaborating physician and the physician assistant with written notice. A physician assistant who receives notice that the board has not authorized a practice agreement or a delegated act shall not practice under the agreement or perform the delegated act.

(e) If a practice agreement is terminated, then a physician assistant shall notify the appropriate licensing board in writing within ten days of the termination. Failure to provide timely notice of the termination constitutes unprofessional conduct and disciplinary proceedings may be instituted by the appropriate licensing board.

§30-3E-11. Supervision of Collaboration with physician assistants.

(a) A licensed physician or podiatrist may supervise a physician assistant:

(1) As a supervising collaborating physician in accordance with an authorized practice agreement; or

(2) As an alternate supervising collaborating physician who:

(A) Supervises Collaborates in accordance with an authorized practice agreement;

(B) Has been designated an alternate supervising collaborating physician in the authorized practice agreement; and

(C) Only delegates those medical acts that have been authorized by the practice agreement and are within the scope of practice of both the primary supervising collaborating physician and the alternate supervising collaborating physician.

(b) A supervising collaborating physician is responsible at all times for the physician assistant under his or her supervision with whom he or she is collaborating, including:

(1) The legal responsibility of the physician assistant;

(2) Observing, directing and evaluating the physician assistant's work records and practices; and

(3) Supervising Collaborating with the physician assistant in the care and treatment of a patient in a health care facility.

(c) A health care facility is only legally responsible for the actions or omissions of a physician assistant when the physician assistant is employed by or on behalf of the facility. Credentialed medical facility staff and attending physicians of a hospital who provide direction to or utilize physician assistants employed by or on behalf of the hospital are considered alternate supervising collaborating physicians.

§30-3E-12. Scope of practice.

(a) A license issued to a physician assistant by the appropriate state licensing board shall authorize the physician assistant to perform medical acts:

(1) Delegated to the physician assistant as part of an authorized practice agreement;

(2) Appropriate to the education, training and experience of the physician assistant;

(3) Customary to the practice of the supervising collaborating physician; and

(4) Consistent with the laws of this state and rules of the boards.

(b) This article does not authorize a physician assistant to perform any specific function or duty delegated by this code to those persons licensed as chiropractors, dentists, dental hygienists, optometrists or pharmacists, or certified as nurse anesthetists.

§30-3E-12a.  Physician assistant signatory authority.

(a) A physician assistant may provide an authorized signature, certification, stamp, verification, affidavit or endorsement on documents within the scope of their practice, including, but not limited to, the following documents:

(1) Death certificates: Provided, That the physician assistant has received training on the completion of death certificates;

(2) “Physician orders for life sustaining treatment”, “physician orders for scope of treatment” and “do not resuscitate” forms;

(3) Handicap hunting certificates; and

(4) Utility company forms requiring maintenance of utilities regardless of ability to pay.

(b) A physician assistant may not sign a certificate of merit for a medical malpractice claim against a physician.

§30-3E-15. Summer camp or volunteer endorsement -- West Virginia licensee.

(a) The appropriate licensing board may grant a summer camp or volunteer endorsement to provide services at a children's summer camp or volunteer services for a public or community event to a physician assistant who:

(1) Is currently licensed by the appropriate licensing board;

(2) Has no current discipline, limitations or restrictions on his or her license;

(3) Has submitted a timely application; and

(4) Attests that:

(A) The organizers of the summer camp and public or community event have arranged for a supervising collaborating physician to be available as needed to the physician assistant;

(B) The physician assistant shall limit his or her scope of practice to medical acts which are within his or her education, training and experience; and

(C) The physician assistant will not prescribe any controlled substances or legend drugs as part of his or her practice at the summer camp or public or community event.

(b) A physician assistant may only receive one summer camp or volunteer endorsement annually. The endorsement is active for one specifically designated period annually, which period cannot exceed three weeks.

(c) A fee cannot be assessed for the endorsement if the physician assistant is volunteering his or her services without compensation or remuneration.

§30-3E-16. Summer camp or volunteer endorsement -- Out-of-state licensee.

(a) The appropriate licensing board may grant a summer camp or volunteer endorsement to provide services at a children's summer camp or volunteer services for a public or community event to a physician assistant licensed from another jurisdiction who:

(1) Is currently licensed in another jurisdiction and has a current certification from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants;

(2) Has no current discipline, limitations or restrictions on his or her license;

(3) Has passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants;

(4) Has submitted a timely application;

(5) Has paid the applicable fees; and

(6) Attests that:

(A) The organizers of the summer camp and public or community event have arranged for a supervising collaborating physician to be available as needed to the physician assistant;

(B) The physician assistant shall limit his or her scope of practice to medical acts which are within his or her education, training and experience; and

(C) The physician assistant will not prescribe any controlled substances or legend drugs as part of his or her practice at the summer camp or public or community event; and

(7) Has fulfilled any other requirements specified by the appropriate board.

(b) A physician assistant may only receive one summer camp or volunteer endorsement annually. The endorsement is active for one specifically designated period annually, which period cannot exceed three weeks.

§30-3E-17. Complaint process.

(a) All hearings and procedures related to denial of a license, and all complaints, investigations, hearings and procedures regarding a physician assistant licenses license and the discipline accorded thereto, shall be in accordance with the processes and procedures set forth in articles three and/or fourteen of this chapter, depending on which board licenses the physician assistant.

(b) The boards may impose the same discipline, restrictions and/or limitations upon the license of a physician assistant as they are authorized to impose upon physicians and/or podiatrists.

(c) The boards shall direct to the appropriate licensing board a complaint against a physician assistant, a supervising collaborating physician and/or an alternate supervising physician.

(d) In the event that independent complaint processes are warranted by the boards with respect to the professional conduct of a physician assistant or a supervising collaborating and/or alternate supervising collaborating physician, the boards are authorized to work cooperatively and to disclose to one another information which may assist the recipient appropriate licensing board in its disciplinary process. The determination of what information, if any, to disclose shall be at the discretion of the disclosing board.

(e) A physician assistant licensed under this article may not be disciplined for providing expedited partner therapy in accordance with article four-f, chapter sixteen of this code.

chapter33.  insurance.

ARTICLE 15. ACCIDENT AND SICKNESS INSURANCE.

§33-15-14. Policies discriminating among health care providers.

Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, when any health insurance policy, health care services plan or other contract provides for the payment of medical expenses, benefits or procedures, such policy, plan or contract shall be construed to include payment to all health care providers including medical physicians, osteopathic physicians, podiatric physicians, chiropractic physicians, midwives, physician assistants and nurse practitioners who provide medical services, benefits or procedures which are within the scope of each respective provider's license. Any limitation or condition placed upon services, diagnoses or treatment by, or payment to any particular type of licensed provider shall apply equally to all types of licensed providers without unfair discrimination as to the usual and customary treatment procedures of any of the aforesaid providers.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to modify laws relating to physician assistants, including modifying board membership, substituting “collaborating” for “supervising” physician, define terms, modify the prescriptive authority of physician assistants, eliminating the continuous national certification requirement, prohibiting an insurance plan from limiting the practice on physician assistants; adding requirements to practice agreement, granting physician assistants signatory authority on certain forms and making conforming amendments.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.