An Act To Eliminate the Dual Licensing of Physician Assistants
Maine Legislature, Session 127, LD 0830
Committee Amendment CA_A_H362 (House)
Amends: 32 MRSA §2594-B, 32 MRSA §2594-C, 32 MRSA §2594-E, 32 MRSA §3270-B, 37-B MRSA §185

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A" to H.P. 564, L.P. 830, Bill, "An Act To 
Eliminate the Dual Licensing of Physician Assistants" 
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and inserting the 
following: 
ISec. 1. 32 MRSA §2594-B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 101, §§2 and 3, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 2. 32 MRSA §2594-C, as amended by PL 2013, c. 101, §4, is repealed. 
Sec. 3. 32 MRSA §2594-E is enacted to read: 
§2594-E. License and registration of physician assistants 
1. 
License and registration required. 
A physician assistant may not render 
medical services under the supervision of an osteopathic physician or an allopathic 
physician pursuant to a plan of supervision until the physician assistant has applied for 
and obtained from either the Board of Osteopathic Licensure or the Board of Licensure in 
Medicine: 
A. A license, which must be renewed biennially with the board that issued the initial 
license; and 
B. A certificate of registration. 
Applications for licensure and certificate of registration as a physician assistant must be 
made to the board that licenses the physician assistant's primary supervising physician at 
the time the applications for initial licensure and certificate of registration are filed. A 
physician assistant who applies for licensure without a designated primary supervising 
physician may submit the application to either the Board of Osteopathic Licensure or the 
Board of Licensure in Medicine. A license granted by either the Board of Osteopathic 
Licensure or the Board of Licensure in Medicine authorizes the physician assistant to 
render medical services under the supervision of an osteopathic or allopathic physician 
regardless of which board issued the license to the physician assistant. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT ,Pr .. to H.P. 564, L.D. 830 
2. Qualification for licensure. The board may issue to an individual a license to 
practice as a physician assistant under the following conditions: 
A. A license may be issued to an individual who: 
(1) Graduated from a physician assistant program approved by the board; 
(2) Passed a physician assistant national certifying examination administered by 
the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or its successor 
organization; 
(3) Demonstrates current clinical competency; 
(4) Does not have a license or certificate of registration that is the subject of 
disciplinary action such as probation, restriction, suspension, revocation or 
surrender; 
(5) Completes an application approved by the board; 
(6) Pays an application fee of up to $250; and 
(7) Passes an examination approved by the board. 
B. No grounds exist as set forth in section 2591-A to deny the application. 
3. 
Certificate of regjstration. 
A physician assistant may not render medical 
services until issued a certificate of registration by the board. The board may issue a 
certificate of registration to a physician assistant under the following requirements: 
A. The physician assistant shall: 
(1) Submit an application on forms approved by the board. The application must 
include: 
(a) 
A written statement by the proposed supervising physician taking 
responsibility for all medical activities of the physician assistant; and 
(b) A written statement by the physician assistant and proposed supervising 
physician that a written plan of supervision has been established; and 
(2) Pays an application fee of up to $50. 
B. 
A proposed supervising physician must hold an active license to practice 
medicine in the State and be in good standing. 
4. Delegation by physician assistant. A physician assistant may delegate medical 
acts to a medical assistant employed by the phy~ician assistant or by an employer of the 
physician assistant as long as that delegation is permitted in the plan of supervision 
established by the physician assistant and the supervising physician. 
5. Rules. The Board of Osteopathic Licensure is authorized to adopt rules regarding 
the training and licensure of physician assistants and the agency relationship between the 
physician assistant and the supervising physician. These rules, which must be adopted 
jointly with the Board of Licensure in Medicine, may pertain to, but are not limited to, the 
following matters: 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT·A" to H.P. 564, L.D. 830 
A. Information to be contained in the application for a license and certificate of 
registration; 
B. Information that is required on the application for a certificate of registration filed 
by the proposed supervising physician; 
C. Training and education requirements and scope of permissible clinical medical 
procedures of the physician assistant and the manner and methods by which the 
supervising physician shall supervise the physician assistant's medical services; 
D. Scope of practice for physician assistants, including prescribing of controtled 
drugs; 
E. Requirements for written plans of supervision; 
F. 
Requirements for a physician assistant to notifY the board regarding certain 
circumstances, including but not limited to any change in address, any change in the 
identity or address of the physician assistant's employer or in the physician assistant's 
employment status, any change in the identity Qr address of the supervising 
physician, the permanent departure of the physician assistant from the State, any 
criminal convictions of the physician assistant and any discipline by other 
jurisdictions of the physician assistant; 
G. Issuance of temporary physician assistant licenses and temporary registration of 
physician assistants; 
H. Appointment of an advisory committee forcQntinuing review of the physician 
assistant program and rules. The physician assistant member of the board pursuant to 
section 2561 must be a member of the advisory committee; 
I. Continuing education requirements as a precondition to continued licensure or 
licensure renewal; 
J. Fees for the application for an initial physician assistant license, which may not 
exceed $250; 
K. Fees for an initial certificate of registration, which may not exceed $100; 
L. Fees for transfer of the certificate of registration by a physician assistant from one 
supervising physician to another, which may not exceed $50; and 
M. Fees for the biennial renewal of a physician assistant license in an amount not to 
exceed $250. 
.. 
. 
. 
Sec. 4. 32 MRSA §3270-B, as amended by PL 2013, c. 101, §§6 and 7, is 
repealed. 
Sec. 5. 32 MRS A §3270-E is enacted to read: 
§3270-E. License and registration of physician assistants 
1. 
License and registration reguired. 
A physician assistant may not render 
medical services under the supervision of an osteopathic physician or an allopathic 
physician pursuant to a plan of supervision until the physician assistant has applied for 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "4" to H.P. 564, L.D. 830 
and obtained from either the Board of Licensure in Medicine or the Board of Osteopathic 
Licensure: 
A. A license, which must be renewed biennially with the board that issued the initial 
license; and 
B. A certificate of registration. 
Applications for licensure and certificate of registration as a physician assistant must be 
made to the board that licenses the physician assistant's primary: supervising physician at 
the time the applications for initial licensure and certificate of registration are filed. A 
physician assistant who applies for licensure without a designated primary supervising 
physician may submit the application to either the Board of Qsteopathic Licensure or the 
Board of Licensure in Medicine. A license granted by either the Boarq of Osteopathic 
Licensure or the Board of Licensure in Medicine authorizes the physician assistant to 
render medical services under the supervision of an allopathic or osteopathic physician 
regardless of which board issued the license to the physician assistant. 
2. Qualification for licensure •. The board may issue to an individual a license to 
practice as a physician assistant under the following conditions: 
..... . 
. 
A. A license may be issued to an individual who: 
en Graduated from a physician assistant program approved by the board; 
(2) Passed a physician assistant national certifying examination administered by 
the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or its successor 
organization; 
(3) Demonstrates current clinical competency; 
(4) Does not have a license or certificate of registration that is the subject of 
disciplinary action such as probation, restriction, suspension, revocation or 
surrender; 
(5) Completes an application approved by the board; 
(6) Pays an application fee of up to $250; and 
(7) Passes an examination approved by the board; and 
B. No grounds exist as set f()rth in section 3282-A to dell);' the application. 
3. 
Certificate of registration. 
A physician assistant may not render medical 
services until issued a certificate of registration by the boarQ. The board may issue a 
certificate of registration to a physician assistant under the following requirements: 
A. The physician assistant shall: 
(1) Submit an application on fonns approved by the board. The application must 
include: 
Ca) . A written statement by the proposed supervising physician taking 
responsibility for all medical activities of the physician assistant; and 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "It" to H.P. 564, L.D. 830 
(b) A written statement by the physician assistant and prQposed supervising 
physician that a written plan of supervision has been (1stablished; and 
(2) Pays an application fee of up to $50. 
B. 
A proposed supervising physician must hold an active license to practice 
medicine in the State and be in good standing. 
4. Delegation by physician assistant. A ppysician. assistant may delegate medical 
acts to a medical assistant employed by the physician assistant or by an employer of the 
physician assistant as long as that delegation is permitted in the plan of supervision 
established by the physician assistant and the supervising physician. 
5. Rules. The Board of Licensure in Medicine is authorized to adopt rules regarding 
the training and licensure of physician assistants and the agency relationship between the 
physician assistant and the supervising physician. These rules, which must be adopted 
jointly with the Board of Osteopathic Licensure, may pertain to, but are not limited to, the 
following matters: 
A. 
Information to be contained in the application for a license and certificate of 
registration; 
B. Information that is required on the application for a certificate of registration filed 
by the proposed supervising physician; 
C. Training and education requirements and scope of permissible clinical medical 
procedures of the physician assistant and the manner and methods by which the 
supervising physician shall supervise the physician assistant's medical services; 
D. Scope of practice for physician assistants, including prescribing of contrQlled 
grugs; 
E. Requirements for written plans of supervision; 
F. 
Requirements for a physician assistant to notify the board regarding certain 
circumstances, including but not limited to any ,change in address, any change in the 
identity or address of the physician assistant's employer or in the physician assistant's 
employment status, any change in the identity or address of the supervising 
physician, the permanent departure of the physician assistant from the State, any 
criminal convictions of the physician assistant and any discipline by other 
jurisdictions of the physician assistant; 
G. Issuance of temporary physician assistant licenses and temporary registration of 
physician assistants; 
H. Appointment of an advisory committee for continuing review of the physician 
assistant program and rules. The physician assistant member of the board pursuant to 
section 2561 must be a member of the advisory committee; 
1. 
Continuing education requirements as a precondition to continued licensure or 
licensure renewal; 
J. Fees for the application for an initial physician assistant license, which may not 
exceed $250; 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT "if" to H.P. 564, L.D. 830 
K. Fees for an initial certificate of registration, which may not exceed$IQO; 
1. Fees for transfer of the certificate of registration by a physician assistant from one 
supervising physician to another, which may not exceed $50; and 
M. Fees for the biennial renewal of a physician assistant license in an amount not to 
exceed $250. 
Sec. 6. 37-B MRSA §185, sub-§l-A, as enacted by PL 2009, c. 587, §1, is 
amended to read: 
I-A. 
Immunity from civil and criminal liability for supervising physician. 
Subsection 1 applies to the supervising physician of a physician assistant under Title 32, 
section 2594 B 2594-E or 3270 B 3270-E: 
A. 
With regard to any act of the physician assistant in providing services to 
individuals not on active state service; 
B. When the physician assistant is on active state service in the perfonnance of the 
physician assistant's duty; and 
C. When the supervising physician is not on active state service. 
Sec. 7. Transition period. A license issued to a physician assistant by the Board 
of Licensure in Medicine or the Board of Osteopathic Licensure that is current and valid 
S 
on the effective date of this Act remains in effect until that license is required to be 
renewed by the board that initially issued the license. A license renewed by a physician 
assistant after the effective date of this Act must be renewed in compliance with any rules 
jointly adopted by the Board of Licensure in Medicine and the Board of Osteopathic 
Licensure. 
Sec. 8. Appropriations and allocations. 
The following appropriations and 
allocations are made. 
PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL REGULATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
Licensure in Medicine - Board of 0376 
Initiative: Allocates funds for the cost of rulemaking and licensing system enhancements 
in order to establish a single physician assistant license. 
' 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
Osteopathic Licensure - Board of 0383 
2015-16 
$15,781 
$15,781 
2016-17 
$0 
$0 
fuitiative: Allocates funds for the cost of rulemaking and licensing system enhancements 
in order to establish a single physician assistant license. 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
,_ i~ , 
,.--, , 
COMMITIEE AMENDMENT ,~" to H.P. 564, L.D. 830 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
All Other 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS TOTAL 
PROFESSIONAL AND FINANCIAL 
REGULATION, DEPARTMENT OF 
DEPARTMENT TOTALS 
OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE FUNDS 
DEPARTMENT TOTAL - ALL FUNDS 
SUMMARY 
2015-16 
2016-17 
$4,711 
$0 
$4,711 
$0 
2015-16 
2016-17 
$20,492 
$0 
$20,492 
$0 
The amendment replaces the bill, which was a concept draft, and establishes a 
licensing process for physician assistants by which a qualified applicant may apply for 
licensure by the board that licenses the applicant's supervising physician, if known. If the 
applicant does not identify a supervising physician, the applicant may apply to either the 
Board of Osteopathic Licensure or the Board of Licensure in Medicine. An applicant for 
physician assistant licensure may be issued a license by only one of the boards, but may 
practice under the supervision of either an osteopathic physician or an allopathic 
physician. 
The amendment allows both boards to jointly adopt rules governing the 
licensure of physician assistants. 
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED 
. (See attached) 
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT 
1-_ .• 
Approved: OS/28/15 
;::Wac::.. 
LD 830 
LR 1328(02) 
An Act To Eliminate the Dual Licensing o{Physician Assistants 
~ 
, \ 
Fiscal Note'for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment 'fr (H 3u~ 
Committee: Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development 
Fiscal Note Required: Yes 
Fiscal Note 
FY 2015-16 
FY 2016-17 
Projections 
FY 2017-18 
Projections 
FY 2018-19 
Appropriationsl Allocations 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
Revenue 
$20,492 
$0 
$0 
$0 
Other Special Revenue Funds 
($4,275) 
$3,225 
($4,275) 
$3,225 
Fiscal Detail and Notes 
This bill includes a one-time Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $15,781 to the Board of Licensure in 
Medicine in fiscal year 2015-16 and a one-time Other Special Revenue Funds allocation of $4,711 to the Board of 
Osteopathic Licensure, also in fiscal year 2015-16, for the cost to each board for rulemaking and technology 
enhancements associated with establishing a single license for physician assistants. Both boards have sufficient 
revenue to support the one-time costs without increasing fees. 
The Board of Licensure in Medicine estimates the net impact on revenues from license and certificate of registration 
fees to be a reduction of approximately $8,300 over the biennium while the Board of Osteopathic Licensure 
anticipates a net increase of $7,250 over the same 2-year period. 
LR1328(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1