2023 Maine Revised Statutes › TITLE 32: PROFESSIONS AND OCCUPATIONS › Chapter 36: OSTEOPATHIC PHYSICIANS › Subchapter 7: GENERAL PROVISIONS › 32 §2594-E. Licensure of physician assistants

§2594-E. Licensure of physician assistants
1.  License required.
A physician assistant may not render medical services 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.   [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
B. [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (RP).]
An application for licensure as a physician assistant must be submitted 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.
[PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
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 $300; and
(7) Passes an examination approved by the board; and   [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
B. No grounds exist as set forth in section 2591‑A to deny the application.   [PL 2015, c. 242, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
3.  Certificate of registration.
[PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (RP).]
4.  Delegation by physician assistant.
A physician assistant may delegate to the physician assistant's employees or support staff or members of a health care team, including medical assistants, certain activities relating to medical care and treatment carried out by custom and usage when the activities are under the control of the physician assistant; the activities being delegated do not, unless otherwise provided by law, require a license, registration or certification to perform; the physician assistant ensures that the employees or support staff or members of a health care team have the appropriate training, education and experience to perform these delegated activities; and the physician assistant ensures that the employees or support staff perform these delegated activities competently and safely. The physician assistant who delegates an activity permitted under this subsection is legally liable for the activity performed by an employee, a medical assistant, support staff or a member of a health care team.
[PL 2023, c. 132, §3 (AMD).]
5.  Rules.
The Board of Osteopathic Licensure is authorized to adopt rules regarding the licensure and practice of physician assistants. 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:
A. Information to be contained in the application for a license;   [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
B. [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (RP).]
C. Education requirements for the physician assistant;   [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
D. [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (RP).]
E. Requirements for collaborative agreements and practice agreements under section 2594‑F, including uniform standards and forms;   [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
F. Requirements for a physician assistant to notify the board regarding certain circumstances, including but not limited to any change in address, 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;   [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
G. Issuance of temporary physician assistant licenses;   [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
H. Appointment of an advisory committee for continuing review of the physician assistant rules. The physician assistant members of the board pursuant to section 2561 must be members of the advisory committee;   [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
I. Continuing education requirements as a precondition to continued licensure or licensure renewal;   [PL 2015, c. 242, §3 (NEW).]
J. Fees for the application for an initial physician assistant license, which may not exceed $300; and   [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
K. [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (RP).]
L. [PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (RP).]
M. Fees for the biennial renewal of a physician assistant license in an amount not to exceed $250.   [PL 2015, c. 242, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2015, c. 242, §3 (NEW). PL 2017, c. 288, Pt. A, §33 (AMD). PL 2019, c. 627, Pt. B, §12 (AMD). PL 2023, c. 132, §3 (AMD).