Iowa Administrative Code › Agency 645 - Professional Licensure Division › Physician Assistants › Chapter 327 - Practice of Physician Assistants › Rule 645-327.1 - Duties

Current through Register Vol. 47, No. 3, July 24, 2024
The medical services to be provided by the physician
				  assistant are those for which the physician assistant has been prepared by
				  education, training, or experience and is competent to perform. The ultimate
				  role of the physician assistant cannot be rigidly defined because of the
				  variations in practice requirements due to geographic, economic, and sociologic
				  factors. The high degree of responsibility a physician assistant may assume
				  requires that, at the conclusion of the formal education, the physician
				  assistant possess the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to provide
				  those services appropriate to the practice setting. The physician assistant's
				  services may be utilized in any clinical settings including but not limited to
				  offices, ambulatory clinics, hospitals, patient's homes, extended care
				  facilities, and nursing homes.
(1) A
				physician assistant's duties relating to prescribing, dispensing, ordering,
				administering, and procuring drugs and medical devices include all of the
				following:
a. Administering any
				drug.
b. Prescribing, dispensing,
				ordering, administering, and procuring drugs and medical devices. A physician
				assistant may plan and initiate a therapeutic regimen that includes ordering
				and prescribing nonpharmacological interventions, including but not limited to
				durable medical equipment, nutrition, blood and blood products, and diagnostic
				support services, including but not limited to home health care, hospice, and
				physical and occupational therapy. The prescribing and dispensing of drugs may
				include Schedule II through V substances, as described in Iowa Code chapter
				124, and all legend drugs.
c. A
				physician assistant may prescribe drugs and medical devices subject to all of
				the following conditions:
(1) The physician
				assistant will have passed the national certifying examination conducted by the
				National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants or its successor
				examination approved by the board.
(2) The physician assistant must comply with
				appropriate federal and state regulations.
(3) If a physician assistant prescribes or
				dispenses controlled substances, the physician assistant must register with the
				federal Drug Enforcement Administration.
(4) The physician assistant may prescribe or
				order Schedule II controlled substances that are listed as depressants in Iowa
				Code chapter 124.
(5) The physician
				assistant may prescribe, supply, and administer drugs and medical devices in
				all settings, including but not limited to hospitals, health care facilities,
				health care institutions, hospice, clinics, offices, health maintenance
				organizations, and outpatient and emergency care settings.
(6) A physician assistant may request,
				receive, and supply sample drugs and medical devices.
d. Supplying properly packaged and labeled
				prescription drugs, controlled substances, or medical devices when pharmacist
				services are not reasonably available or when it is in the best interest of the
				patient.
(1) If the physician assistant is the
				prescriber of the medications supplied pursuant to this paragraph, the
				medications supplied will be for the purpose of accommodating the patient and
				will not be sold for more than the cost of the drug and reasonable overhead
				costs as they relate to supplying prescription drugs to the patient and not at
				a profit to the physician assistant.
(2) A nurse or staff assistant may assist the
				physician assistant in supplying medications.