SB 89: An Act relating to physician assistants; relating to collaborative agreements between physicians and physician assistants; relating to the practice of medicine; relating to health care providers; and relating to provisions regarding physician assistants in contracts between certain health care providers and health care insurers. - Alaska

CSSB 89(L&C) → CSSB 89(2d L&C) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill significantly expanded the scope of practice for physician assistants in Alaska, shifting from a restrictive list of specific acts to a broad standard allowing them to perform any service they are qualified to provide. This change grants physician assistants new authorities, such as prescribing controlled substances, pronouncing death, and performing limited sonography, while maintaining a requirement for collaborative agreements with physicians. The revision also updated the timeline for the bill's consideration and clarified the conditions under which a physician assistant can practice without a collaborative agreement.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a narrow, enumerated list of permitted acts to a broad standard based on education, training, and competence, significantly increasing the range of medical services physician assistants can perform.

SCOPE

Replaced a restrictive list of specific acts with a broad standard allowing physician assistants to perform any medical service for which they are qualified by education, training, and experience.

Granted new authorities including the ability to prescribe schedule II-V controlled substances, pronounce death, perform limited sonography, and administer or dispense drugs.

REQUIREMENT

Updated the requirements for practicing without a collaborative agreement to specify that the physician assistant must work at a facility directed by a licensed physician or a specific type of licensed health care facility.

TIMELINE

Changed the bill's offered date from May 2025 to February 2026 and updated the internal bill version identifier.

SB 89 → CSSB 89(L&C) · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended by the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee to clarify the rules for physician assistants (PAs) practicing in Alaska. Key changes include expanding the definition of surgery to explicitly require assistance from a physician, osteopath, or podiatrist, and increasing the experience threshold for PAs to practice independently from 4,000 to 6,000 hours. The amendment also adds new regulations for resolving conflicts when a collaborating physician is unavailable and requires PAs to notify the board before entering new specialties.

Scope change

The bill's scope was refined to clarify that surgical acts by PAs must be performed as assistants to licensed physicians, osteopaths, or podiatrists, and the eligibility criteria for independent practice were adjusted to require more clinical experience.

REQUIREMENT

Clarified that PAs cannot perform surgery or operate on humans without assistance from a physician, osteopath, or podiatrist.

Added a requirement for the board to adopt regulations on resolving inconsistencies in attested clinical hours when a collaborating physician is incapacitated or unavailable.

Added a requirement for PAs to notify the board before beginning practice in a new specialty.

Changed the requirement for new specialty practice from a fixed 4,000-hour minimum to a flexible requirement based on the risk and complexity of the specialty.

ELIGIBILITY

Increased the required postgraduate clinical experience for a PA to practice without a collaborative agreement from 4,000 hours to 6,000 hours.

Enrolled SB 89 → SB 89 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill significantly expands the scope of practice for physician assistants (PAs) in Alaska, allowing them to perform a broader range of medical services independently or under collaborative agreements. It introduces specific regulatory requirements for PAs with less than 4,000 hours of experience, mandating written collaborative agreements with their employers and periodic competency assessments by supervising physicians. The legislation also updates the State Medical Board's composition to include a licensed PA and clarifies exemptions for PAs practicing in remote areas or specific facilities.

Scope change

The bill expands the scope of practice for physician assistants to include diagnosing, treating, and prescribing, while simultaneously tightening the requirements for how PAs with limited experience must practice under supervision.

REQUIREMENT

Mandates written collaborative agreements for PAs with less than 4,000 hours of postgraduate clinical experience, requiring oversight by the employer and periodic competency assessments by a physician.

Requires the State Medical Board to adopt regulations defining allowable PA acts, prohibiting independent surgery, and establishing methods for periodic assessment of PA competency.

Establishes a notification and attestation process for PAs beginning practice in new specialties or obtaining additional clinical experience hours.

SCOPE

Broadens the scope of practice for PAs to include evaluating, diagnosing, managing treatment, ordering diagnostics, and prescribing controlled substances, subject to regulatory limits.

ELIGIBILITY

Amends the State Medical Board's membership to include one licensed physician assistant, ensuring PA representation in board decisions.

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