SUPERVISION OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

HB 150 eliminates a requirement that physician assistants (PAs) in New Mexico must practice under direct physician supervision. The bill amends the definition of "physician assistant" in state law to remove the phrase "with the supervision of or in collaboration with a licensed physician," meaning PAs can now provide patient care without needing a physician physically present during services. This directly affects licensed PAs and the New Mexico Medical Board, which previously enforced these supervision rules. The change streamlines practice standards for PAs while maintaining their need for collaboration with physicians as defined elsewhere in the law.