An Act to Increase
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 2088
Committee Amendment CA_A_H860 (House)
Amends: 32 MRSA §2594-F, 32 MRSA §3270-G

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "/ I " to H,P, 1403, L.D. 2088, "An Act to Increase
Access to Primary Care Provided by Physician Associates"
Amend the bill by st-iking out all of section 4 and inserting the following:
'See. 4. 32 MRSA §2594-F, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2019,c. 627, Pt, B, §13 and
amended by PL 2025, c. 316, §3, is further amended to read;
6. Practice agreement Principal clinical provider requirements. A physician
associate who has more than 4,000 hours of clinical practice may be the principal clinical
provider in a practice that does not include a physician partner as long as the physician
associate has a practice agreement with an active physician, and other health. care
professionals aa necessary; submits documentation to the board that describes the physician
associate's scope of practice as determined by the independent practice settmg, including
information about the location of the physician associate's independent practice and how
the physician associate will consult with or collaborate with an at?propriate physician or
other health care professional as indicated by a patient's condition or refer a patient to a
physician or other health care professional. A physician associate is legally responsible and
assumes legal liability for any medical service provided by the physician associate in
accordance with the physician associate's scope of practice under subsection 2 and a
practice agreement under this subsection, A physician associate shall submit the pN
agreement documentation required by this subsection to the board for approval in a
satisfactory manner, and the agreement documentation must be kept on file at the main
location of the physician associate's practice and be made available to the board or the
board's representative upon request. Upon any change in the parties to the practice
agreement or other substantive change in the practice agreement physician associate's scope
of practice, the physician associate shall submit tbe revised practice agreement
documentation reflecting that change to the board for approval, Under a practico
agreement, consultation may occur through eleotronio means and does not require tho
physical presence oftho physician or other health care providers who are parties to the
6 agreement at the time or place that the medical Qervicea arc provided,'
Amend the bill by striking out all of section 8 and inserting the following;
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT "A." to H,P. 1403, L.D, 2088
^
'See. 8. 32 MRSA §3270-G, sub-§6, as enacted by PL 2019,c. 627, Pt. B, §17 and
amended by PL 2025, c. 316, §3, is further amended to read:
6. Practice agreement Principal clinical provider requirements. A physician
associate who has more than 4,000 hours of clinical practice may be the principal clinical
provider in a practice that does not include a physician partner as long as the physician
associate has a practice agreement with an active physician, and other health care
professionals as necessary, submits documentation to the board that describes the physician
associate's scope of practice as determined by the independent practice setting, including
infonnation about the location of the physician associate's independent practice and how
the physician associate will consult with or collaborate with an appropriate Bhysiciati or
other health care professional as indicated by a patient's _condition or_refer a- patient to a
physician or other health care professional, A physician associate is legally responsible and
assumes legal liability for any medical service provided by the physician associate in
accordance with the physician associate's scope of practice under subsection 2 and a
practice agreement-yfidw this subsection, A physician associate shall submit the
agreement documentation required by this subsection to the board for approval in a
satisfactory manner, and the agreement documentation must be kept on file at the main
location of the physician associate's practice and be made available to the board or the
board's representative upon request, Upon any change in the parties to the praotios
agreement or other substantive change in tho practice agroomont physician associate's scope
of practice, the physician associate shall submit the revised pmotico agreement
documentation reflecting that change to the board for approval . Under a praotice agreeffient?
consultation may occur through electronic means and does not require the physical
presence-ofthe physician or other health care providers who are parties to the agreement at
the timo or place that the medical servioeB are provided.'
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment is the minority report of the committee. Like the bill, the amendment
removes from current law the requirement that a physician associate with more than 4,000
hours of clinical practice must have a signed practice agreement with a physician m order
to be the principal clinical provider in a practice that does not include a physician partner,
While the bill does not provide a replacement to this requirement, the amendment, instead
of a practice agreement, requires a physician associate to file documentation with the
5 appropriate licensing board that describes the physician associate s scope of practice as
6 determined by the independent practice setting, including information about the location of
7 the physician associate's independent practice and how the physician associate will consult
with or collaborate with an appropriate physician or other health care professional as
indicated by a patient's condition or refer a patient to a physician or other health care
professional,
FISCAL NOTE REQUIRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved; 03/05/26
t^RL
LD 2088 LR 2828(02)
An Act to Increase Access to Primary Care Provided by Physician Associates
. 4(^
Financial Services
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment ^
Committee: Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services
Fiscal Note
Minor cost increase - Other Special Revenue Funds
Fiscal Detail and Notes
Any additional administrative costs to the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, Office of
Professional and Occupational Regulation associated with review and maintenance of physician associate scope of
practice documentation can be absorbed within existing budgeted resources,
LR2828(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1