Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes physician assistants with sufficient training to practice as members of a physician-led team in Alaska.

Highlights:

• Authorizes physician assistants to provide any medical service as long as they are qualified through (Sec. 2):

• Education;

• Training; and

• Experience .

• Requires physicians to meet specific qualifications such as (Sec. 3):

• Certificate of graduation from an accredited health institution;

• Passing scores on National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant (on or after January 1, 2001); and

• Hours displaying postgraduate clinical experience.

• Authorizes the board to waive their examination requirement and license if the individual shows proof of continued work. (Sec. 5).

• Requires an individual to have the following (Sec. 5):

• Active license in the US or Canada; or

• Passed examination established by the board.

• Authorizes any member of the board to issue a temporary permit to a physician if they meet specific criteria and pay their fees (Sec. 6).

• Authorizes the board to impose a sanction on the physician license if the individual has been convicted of fraud or has any felony or criminal background (Sec. 10).

• Authorizes the board to accept any voluntary surrendering of a license (Sec. 11).

• Requires physicians or physician assistants to report the status of their patients and specifies that they may not refuse any medical reports (Sec. 12-14).

• Classifies a violation under this Act as a class A misdemeanor (Sec 15).

• Specifies that only those with the correct educational credentials are allowed to practice medicine and publicly use any medical professional titles (Sec. 17).

Full Bill Text