Bill Text: NY S02254 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Amended


Bill Title: Authorizes physician assistants under the supervision of a physician to perform most medical services that a physician can perform, including the signing of death certificates.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-29 - PRINT NUMBER 2254A [S02254 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-S02254-Amended.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                        2254--A
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                   I N  S E N A T E
                                   January 15, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  Sen.  YOUNG  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
         printed to be committed to the Committee on Health --  recommitted  to
         the  Committee  on  Health in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 --
         committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as  amended  and
         recommitted to said committee
       AN  ACT  to  amend  the public health law, the education law, the social
         services law, the workers' compensation law, the  mental  hygiene  law
         and  the  general business law, in relation to clarifying the scope of
         practice of licensed physician assistants
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1.  Subdivision 1 of section 3700 of the public health law, as
    2  amended  by  chapter  48  of  the  laws  of  2012, is amended to read as
    3  follows:
    4    1.  Physician  assistant.  The  term  "physician  assistant"  means  a
    5  [person]  DEPENDENT  PRACTITIONER  WORKING  UNDER  THE  SUPERVISION OF A
    6  LICENSED PHYSICIAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF THE PHYSICIAN  ASSIST-
    7  ANT  AND  who  is  licensed as a physician assistant pursuant to section
    8  sixty-five hundred forty-one of the education law.
    9    S 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 3704  to
   10  read as follows:
   11    S 3704. PERFORMANCE OF MEDICAL SERVICES. 1.  A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT MAY
   12  PERFORM  MEDICAL  SERVICES,  BUT  ONLY  WHEN  UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A
   13  PHYSICIAN AND ONLY WHEN SUCH ACTS ASSIGNED TO HIM OR HER ARE WITHIN  THE
   14  SCOPE  OF PRACTICE OF SUCH SUPERVISING PHYSICIAN. THE SUPERVISING PHYSI-
   15  CIAN MAY DELEGATE TO THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT ANY MEDICAL  PROCEDURES  OR
   16  TASKS  FOR  WHICH  THE  PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT IS APPROPRIATELY TRAINED AND
   17  QUALIFIED TO PERFORM AND THAT ARE PERFORMED WITHIN THE NORMAL  SCOPE  OF
   18  THE PHYSICIAN'S PRACTICE.
   19    2.  NOTHING  IN THIS ARTICLE OR IN ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF
   20  THE EDUCATION LAW SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO AUTHORIZE  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANTS
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD06422-02-4
       S. 2254--A                          2
    1  TO PERFORM THOSE SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS AND DUTIES SPECIFICALLY DELEGATED BY
    2  LAW  TO THOSE PERSONS LICENSED AS ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS UNDER THIS
    3  CHAPTER OR THE EDUCATION LAW. SPECIFICALLY, PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANTS  SHALL
    4  NOT  PERFORM  THE  PRACTICE  OF RADIOLOGIC TECHNOLOGY OR THE PRACTICE OF
    5  OPTOMETRY AS THOSE PRACTICES ARE DEFINED  UNDER  THIS  CHAPTER  AND  THE
    6  EDUCATION LAW.
    7    S 3. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 2305 of the public health law, as
    8  amended  by  section 35 of part E of chapter 56 of the laws of 2013, are
    9  amended to read as follows:
   10    1. No person, other than a licensed physician OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
   11  UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN,  or,  in  a  hospital,  a
   12  staff  physician, shall diagnose, treat or prescribe for a person who is
   13  infected with a sexually transmitted disease, or who has been exposed to
   14  infection with a sexually transmitted disease, or  dispense  or  sell  a
   15  drug,  medicine  or  remedy  for  the treatment of such person except on
   16  prescription of a duly licensed physician OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER
   17  THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN.
   18    2. A licensed physician OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION
   19  OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN, or in a hospital, a staff physician, may  diag-
   20  nose,  treat or prescribe for a person under the age of twenty-one years
   21  without the consent or knowledge of the  parents  or  guardian  of  said
   22  person,  where  such  person  is  infected  with  a sexually transmitted
   23  disease, or has been exposed to infection with  a  sexually  transmitted
   24  disease.
   25    S 4. Subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 2308 of the public health law are
   26  amended to read as follows:
   27    1.  Every  physician  OR  PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
   28  SUCH PHYSICIAN attending pregnant women in the state shall in  the  case
   29  of  every  woman so attended take or cause to be taken a sample of blood
   30  of such woman at the time of first examination, and submit  such  sample
   31  to an approved laboratory for a standard serological test for syphilis.
   32    2.  Every  other person permitted by law to attend upon pregnant women
   33  in the state but not permitted by law to take blood tests, shall cause a
   34  sample of the blood of such pregnant woman to be  taken  promptly  by  a
   35  duly  licensed  physician OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION
   36  OF SUCH PHYSICIAN and submitted to an approved laboratory for a standard
   37  serological test for syphilis.
   38    S 5. Section 2498 of the public health law, as added by chapter 237 of
   39  the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
   40    S 2498. Provision of summary by  physician.    The  summary  shall  be
   41  provided  by a physician, OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION
   42  OF SUCH PHYSICIAN, to each person under such  physician's  OR  PHYSICIAN
   43  ASSISTANT'S  care,  when  a hysterectomy is under consideration for that
   44  person.
   45    S 6. Subdivision 10 of section 2500-e of the  public  health  law,  as
   46  added by chapter 4 of the laws of 1990, is amended to read as follows:
   47    10.  If  any  licensed physician, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPER-
   48  VISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN or nurse practitioner  certifies  that  a
   49  follow-up  dose  of  hepatitis B vaccine may be detrimental to a child's
   50  health, the requirements of this section  shall  be  inapplicable  until
   51  such  immunization  is found no longer to be detrimental to such child's
   52  health.
   53    S 7. Section 2502 of the public health law, as amended by chapter  884
   54  of the laws of 1972, is amended to read as follows:
   55    S  2502.  Report  of  certain  conditions. Any nurse-midwife, nurse or
   56  other person having the care of an infant within the age  of  two  weeks
       S. 2254--A                          3
    1  who  neglects or omits to report immediately to the health officer or to
    2  a legally qualified practitioner of medicine of the city, town or  place
    3  where  such  child is being cared for, the fact that one or both eyes of
    4  such  infant are [inflammed] INFLAMED or reddened whenever such shall be
    5  the case, or who applies any remedy  therefor  without  the  advice,  or
    6  except  by  the  direction  of  such officer or physician OR A PHYSICIAN
    7  ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN is guilty of a  misdemea-
    8  nor.
    9    S  8. Section 2503 of the public health law, as amended by chapter 485
   10  of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:
   11    S 2503. Drug information to be furnished expectant mothers. The physi-
   12  cian, A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE  SUPERVISION  OF  A  PHYSICIAN  or
   13  nurse-midwife  to  be in attendance at the birth of a child shall inform
   14  the expectant mother, in advance of the birth, of the  drugs  that  such
   15  physician,  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN or
   16  nurse-midwife expects to employ during pregnancy and of the  obstetrical
   17  and  other  drugs  that  such  physician,  PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE
   18  SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN or nurse-midwife expects to employ  at  birth
   19  and of the possible effects of such drugs on the child and mother.
   20    S  9. Subdivision 4 of section 2504 of the public health law, as added
   21  by chapter 769 of the laws of 1972 and as renumbered by chapter  976  of
   22  the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
   23    4.  Medical,  dental,  health and hospital services may be rendered to
   24  persons of any age without the consent of a  parent  or  legal  guardian
   25  when,  in the physician's OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT'S UNDER THE SUPERVISION
   26  OF SUCH PHYSICIAN judgment an emergency exists  and  the  person  is  in
   27  immediate  need  of  medical  attention and an attempt to secure consent
   28  would result in delay of treatment which would increase the risk to  the
   29  person's life or health.
   30    S  10.  Subdivision  1  of  section  2570 of the public health law, as
   31  amended by chapter 495 of the laws  of  1955,  is  amended  to  read  as
   32  follows:
   33    1.  Every  institution in this state, operated for the express purpose
   34  of receiving or caring for dependent, neglected or destitute children or
   35  juvenile delinquents, except hospitals, shall have  attached  thereto  a
   36  regular  physician  OR  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANT  UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A
   37  REGULAR PHYSICIAN of its selection duly licensed under the laws  of  the
   38  state and in good professional standing, whose name and address shall be
   39  kept posted conspicuously within such institution.
   40    S 11. Subdivision 1 of section 2573 of the public health law, as added
   41  by chapter 495 of the laws of 1955, is amended to read as follows:
   42    1.  The  administrative  officer  or  person in charge and the regular
   43  physician OR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER  THE  SUPERVISION  OF  A  REGULAR
   44  PHYSICIAN  of  every institution caring for children referred to in this
   45  article shall make such reports concerning the  physical  condition  and
   46  health  of the children and the environmental sanitation of the institu-
   47  tion as may be required by the state health commissioner,  local  health
   48  officer or health commissioner having jurisdiction.
   49    S  12.  Subdivision  14  of  section 3001 of the public health law, as
   50  amended by chapter 804 of the laws  of  1992,  is  amended  to  read  as
   51  follows:
   52    14.  "Qualified medical and health personnel" means physicians, PHYSI-
   53  CIAN ASSISTANTS, registered professional nurses and  advanced  emergency
   54  medical  technicians  competent  in the management of patients requiring
   55  advanced life support care.
       S. 2254--A                          4
    1    S 13. Subdivisions 4 and 5 of section 3602 of the public  health  law,
    2  as  amended  by  chapter 600 of the laws of 2002, are amended to read as
    3  follows:
    4    4.  "Home  health  aide  services"  means  simple  health  care tasks,
    5  personal hygiene services, housekeeping tasks essential to the patient's
    6  health and other related supportive services.  Such  services  shall  be
    7  prescribed by a physician OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION
    8  OF  A  PHYSICIAN  in accordance with a plan of treatment for the patient
    9  and shall be under the supervision of a  registered  professional  nurse
   10  from a certified home health agency or, when appropriate, from a provid-
   11  er  of  a  long  term  home  health  care program and of the appropriate
   12  professional therapist from  such  agency  or  provider  when  the  aide
   13  carries  out  simple  procedures  as an extension of physical, speech or
   14  occupational therapy. Such services may also be prescribed or ordered by
   15  a nurse practitioner to the extent authorized by law and consistent with
   16  the written practice agreement pursuant to subdivision three of  section
   17  six thousand nine hundred two of the education law and not prohibited by
   18  federal law or regulation.
   19    5.  "Personal  care  services"  means services to assist with personal
   20  hygiene,  dressing,  feeding  and  household  tasks  essential  to   the
   21  patient's  health. Such services shall be prescribed by a physician OR A
   22  PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN  in  accordance
   23  with  a plan of home care supervised by a registered professional nurse.
   24  Such services may also be prescribed or ordered by a nurse  practitioner
   25  to the extent authorized by law and consistent with the written practice
   26  agreement  pursuant  to  subdivision  three of section six thousand nine
   27  hundred two of the education law and not prohibited by  federal  law  or
   28  regulations.
   29    S  14.  Subdivision  4  of  section  4141 of the public health law, as
   30  amended by chapter 153 of the laws  of  2011,  is  amended  to  read  as
   31  follows:
   32    4. (a) The medical certificate shall be made, dated, and signed by the
   33  physician,  THE  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANT  ACTING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A
   34  PHYSICIAN, or nurse practitioner, if any,  last  in  attendance  on  the
   35  deceased.
   36    (b)  Indefinite terms, denoting only symptoms of disease or conditions
   37  resulting from disease, shall not be held sufficient.
   38    (c) Any certificate stating the cause of  death  in  terms  which  the
   39  commissioner declares indefinite shall be returned to the physician, THE
   40  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANT  ACTING UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN, nurse
   41  practitioner, or person making the medical  certificate  for  correction
   42  and more definite statement.  A CERTIFICATE CERTIFIED TO AND SIGNED BY A
   43  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION SHALL HAVE THE SAME
   44  FORCE AND EFFECT IN THE LAW AS A CERTIFICATE SIGNED BY A PHYSICIAN.
   45    (d) Where a death is caused by an opioid  overdose,  such  information
   46  shall be indicated, including any related information as the commission-
   47  er may require.
   48    S  15.  Section 4141-a of the public health law, as amended by chapter
   49  352 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
   50    S 4141-a. Death certificate; duties of hospital administrator. When  a
   51  death occurs in a hospital, except in those cases where certificates are
   52  issued  by  coroners  or medical examiners, the person in charge of such
   53  hospital or his or her designated representative shall promptly  present
   54  the  certificate  to the physician, THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT ACTING UNDER
   55  THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN, or nurse practitioner in attendance,  or
   56  a  physician,  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANT  ACTING  UNDER  THE SUPERVISION OF A
       S. 2254--A                          5
    1  PHYSICIAN, or nurse practitioner acting in his or her behalf, who  shall
    2  promptly  certify to the facts of death, provide the medical information
    3  required by the certificate, sign the medical certificate of death,  and
    4  thereupon  return  such certificate to such person, so that the seventy-
    5  two hour registration time limit prescribed in section four thousand one
    6  hundred forty of this title can be met; provided, however that  commenc-
    7  ing  on or after the implementation date under section forty-one hundred
    8  forty-eight of this title, information and signatures required  by  this
    9  section  shall be obtained and made in accordance with section forty-one
   10  hundred forty-eight of this title.    A  CERTIFICATE  CERTIFIED  TO  AND
   11  SIGNED  BY  A  PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION SHALL
   12  HAVE THE SAME FORCE AND EFFECT IN LAW  AS  A  CERTIFICATE  SIGNED  BY  A
   13  PHYSICIAN.
   14    S  16.  Subdivision  (b)  of section 4142 of the public health law, as
   15  amended by chapter 153 of the laws  of  2011,  is  amended  to  read  as
   16  follows:
   17    (b)  present  the  certificate  promptly  to  the attending physician,
   18  PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN, or nurse prac-
   19  titioner, who shall forthwith certify to the facts of death, provide the
   20  medical information required by the certificate  and  sign  the  medical
   21  certificate  of  death,  or  to the coroner or medical examiner in those
   22  cases where so required by this article or, when a  death  occurs  in  a
   23  hospital,  except in those cases where certificates are issued by coron-
   24  ers or medical examiners, to the person in charge of  such  hospital  or
   25  his  or  her  designated  representative,  who  shall obtain the medical
   26  certificate of death as prescribed in section four thousand one  hundred
   27  forty-one-a of this title;
   28    S  17.  Paragraph  (b)  of subdivision 2 of section 4144 of the public
   29  health law, as amended by chapter 352 of the laws of 2013, is amended to
   30  read as follows:
   31    (b) [Verbal] SPOKEN permission to remove a body of a  deceased  person
   32  from  the county in which death occurred or the body was found to a non-
   33  adjacent county within the state of New York, as provided in subdivision
   34  one of this section, shall be issued by  the  said  registrar  of  vital
   35  statistics,  upon request by telephone of a licensed funeral director or
   36  undertaker who holds a certificate of  death  signed  by  the  attending
   37  physician,  PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN, or
   38  nurse practitioner, or for deaths occurring on or after the  implementa-
   39  tion  date  under  section  forty-one hundred forty-eight of this title,
   40  such certificate of death signed by the attending  physician,  PHYSICIAN
   41  ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN, or nurse practitioner is
   42  available  electronically  in  accordance with section forty-one hundred
   43  forty-eight of this title, showing that the death resulted from  natural
   44  causes  and was not a result of accidental, suicidal, homicidal or other
   45  external causes.
   46    S 18. The section heading and subdivisions 2, 3 and 4 of section  4161
   47  of  the  public health law, the section heading and subdivisions 2 and 3
   48  as amended by chapter 153 of the laws  of  2011  and  subdivision  4  as
   49  amended  by  chapter  352  of  the  laws of 2013, are amended to read as
   50  follows:
   51    Fetal death certificates;  form  and  content;  physicians,  PHYSICIAN
   52  ASSISTANTS, nurse practitioners, midwives, and hospital administrators.
   53    2.  In  each  case  where  a  physician, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE
   54  SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN, or nurse practitioner was in  attendance  at
   55  or  after  a  fetal  death,  it is the duty of such physician, PHYSICIAN
   56  ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN, or nurse practitioner to
       S. 2254--A                          6
    1  certify to the birth and to the  cause  of  death  on  the  fetal  death
    2  certificate. Where a nurse-midwife was in attendance at a fetal death it
    3  is the duty of such nurse-midwife to certify to the birth but, he or she
    4  shall not certify to the cause of death on the fetal death certificate.
    5    3.  Fetal  deaths  occurring  without  the  attendance of a physician,
    6  PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN, or nurse prac-
    7  titioner as provided in subdivision two of this section shall be treated
    8  as deaths without medical attendance, as provided in this article.
    9    4. When a fetal death occurs in a  hospital,  except  in  those  cases
   10  where  certificates  are  issued  by  coroners or medical examiners, the
   11  person in charge of such hospital or his  or  her  designated  represen-
   12  tative  shall  promptly present the certificate to the physician, PHYSI-
   13  CIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN,  or  nurse  practi-
   14  tioner  in  attendance,  or  a  physician, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE
   15  SUPERVISION OF A PHYSICIAN, or nurse practitioner acting in his  or  her
   16  behalf,  who  shall  promptly certify to the facts of birth and of fetal
   17  death, provide the medical information required by the certificate, sign
   18  the medical certificate of birth and death, and  thereupon  return  such
   19  certificate  to  such  person, so that the seventy-two hour registration
   20  time limit prescribed in section four thousand one hundred sixty of this
   21  title can be met; provided, however that  commencing  on  or  after  the
   22  implementation  date under section forty-one hundred forty-eight of this
   23  article, information and signatures required by this  subdivision  shall
   24  be  obtained  and  made  in  accordance  with  section forty-one hundred
   25  forty-eight of this article.
   26    S 19. The section heading and subdivision 1 of  section  4171  of  the
   27  public  health  law,  as amended by chapter 153 of the laws of 2011, are
   28  amended to read as follows:
   29    Records; duties of physicians, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS, nurse practition-
   30  ers, and others to furnish information.
   31    1. Physicians, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A  PHYSI-
   32  CIAN,  nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, funeral directors, undertak-
   33  ers and informants, and all other persons having knowledge of the facts,
   34  are hereby required to supply, upon a form provided by the  commissioner
   35  or  upon  the original certificate, such information as they may possess
   36  regarding any birth or death upon demand of the commissioner, in person,
   37  by mail, or through the registrar.
   38    S 20. Subdivisions 1, 3 and 5 of section 4175  of  the  public  health
   39  law,  as amended by chapter 153 of the laws of 2011, are amended to read
   40  as follows:
   41    1. If, at any time after the birth, or within one year of  the  death,
   42  of  any person within the state, a certified copy of the official record
   43  of said birth or death, with the information required to  be  registered
   44  by  this  article,  is  necessary  for  legal, judicial, or other proper
   45  purposes, and, after search by the commissioner or his or her  represen-
   46  tatives,  it appears that no such certificate of birth or death was made
   47  and filed as provided by this article, then the commissioner shall imme-
   48  diately require the physician, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION
   49  OF A PHYSICIAN, nurse  practitioner,  or  nurse-midwife  who,  being  in
   50  attendance upon a birth, failed or neglected to file a certificate ther-
   51  eof,  or  the  funeral director, undertaker, or other person who, having
   52  charge of the interment or removal of the body  of  a  deceased  person,
   53  failed  or  neglected  to file the certificate of death, if he or she is
   54  living, to obtain and file at once with the local registrar such certif-
   55  icate in as complete form as the lapse of time will permit.
       S. 2254--A                          7
    1    3. If the physician, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE  SUPERVISION  OF  A
    2  PHYSICIAN,  nurse  practitioner,  nurse-midwife,  funeral  director,  or
    3  undertaker responsible for the report is deceased or cannot be  located,
    4  then  the person making application for the certified copy of the record
    5  may  file  such  certificate of birth or death together with such state-
    6  ments subscribed and affirmed by the persons making them as  true  under
    7  the  penalties  of  perjury  and  other evidence as the commissioner may
    8  require.
    9    5. The delinquent physician, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION
   10  OF A PHYSICIAN, nurse  practitioner,  nurse-midwife,  funeral  director,
   11  undertaker,  or other person may, in the discretion of the commissioner,
   12  be prosecuted as required by this article, without bar from the  statute
   13  of  limitations,  if  he  or  she neglects or fails to file promptly the
   14  certificate required by this section.
   15    S 21. Subdivision 1 of section 6540 of the education law,  as  amended
   16  by chapter 48 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
   17    1.  Physician  assistant.    The  term  "physician  assistant" means a
   18  [person] DEPENDENT PRACTITIONER  WORKING  UNDER  THE  SUPERVISION  OF  A
   19  LICENSED  PHYSICIAN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ACTIONS OF THE PHYSICIAN ASSIST-
   20  ANT AND who is licensed as a physician assistant pursuant to this  arti-
   21  cle.
   22    S  22.  Subdivisions  1 and 7 of section 6542 of the education law, as
   23  amended by chapter 48 of the laws  of  2012,  are  amended  to  read  as
   24  follows:
   25    1.  Notwithstanding  any other provision of law, a physician assistant
   26  may perform medical services, but only when under the supervision  of  a
   27  physician  and  only when such acts and duties as are assigned to him or
   28  her are within the scope of practice of such supervising physician.  THE
   29  SUPERVISING PHYSICIAN  MAY  DELEGATE  TO  THE  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANT  ANY
   30  MEDICAL  PROCEDURES OR TASKS FOR WHICH THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT IS APPRO-
   31  PRIATELY TRAINED AND QUALIFIED TO PERFORM AND THAT ARE PERFORMED  WITHIN
   32  THE NORMAL SCOPE OF THE PHYSICIAN'S PRACTICE.
   33    7.  Nothing  in this article, or in article thirty-seven of the public
   34  health law, shall be construed  to  authorize  physician  assistants  to
   35  perform  those  specific  functions and duties specifically delegated by
   36  law to those persons licensed as allied health professionals  under  the
   37  public  health  law  or  this [chapter] TITLE.   SPECIFICALLY, PHYSICIAN
   38  ASSISTANTS SHALL NOT PERFORM THE PRACTICE OF  RADIOLOGIC  TECHNOLOGY  OR
   39  THE  PRACTICE  OF  OPTOMETRY  AS  THOSE  PRACTICES ARE DEFINED UNDER THE
   40  PUBLIC HEALTH LAW AND THIS TITLE.
   41    S 23. The education law is amended by adding a new section  6545-a  to
   42  read as follows:
   43    S  6545-A.  STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION.  A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT MAY PERFORM
   44  ANY FUNCTION, WITH APPROPRIATE PHYSICIAN SUPERVISION, IN ANY HEALTH CARE
   45  SETTING, THAT A STATUTE AUTHORIZES OR DIRECTS A PHYSICIAN TO PERFORM AND
   46  THAT IS WITHIN THE NORMAL PRACTICE OF THAT PHYSICIAN, EXCEPT THOSE FUNC-
   47  TIONS AUTHORIZED OR DIRECTED BY  AND  IN  ARTICLE  THIRTY-THREE  OF  THE
   48  PUBLIC  HEALTH  LAW,  UNLESS  THE  STATUTE  AUTHORIZING OR DIRECTING THE
   49  PHYSICIAN TO PERFORM SUCH FUNCTION OR FUNCTIONS EXPRESSLY STATES  OTHER-
   50  WISE.
   51    S  24.  Subdivision c of section 6731 of the education law, as amended
   52  by chapter 389 of the laws of 2007, is amended to read as follows:
   53    c. Such treatment shall be rendered pursuant to a referral  which  may
   54  be  directive  as  to  treatment  by  a  licensed physician, A PHYSICIAN
   55  ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN, dentist, podia-
   56  trist, nurse practitioner or licensed midwife, each acting within his or
       S. 2254--A                          8
    1  her lawful scope of practice, and in accordance  with  their  diagnosis,
    2  except as provided in subdivision d of this section.
    3    S  25. Subdivision c of section 6741 of the education law, as added by
    4  chapter 618 of the laws of 1980, is amended to read as follows:
    5    c. Nothing in this article is intended to affect the  overall  medical
    6  direction  by  a  licensed  physician OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE
    7  SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN, of a physical therapist assistant.
    8    S 26. Subdivision 3 of section 6807 of the education law, as added  by
    9  chapter 573 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
   10    3. A pharmacist may dispense drugs and devices to a registered profes-
   11  sional nurse, and a registered professional nurse may possess and admin-
   12  ister,  drugs  and  devices,  pursuant to a non-patient specific regimen
   13  prescribed or ordered by a licensed  physician,  A  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANT
   14  UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN or certified nurse practi-
   15  tioner,  pursuant to regulations promulgated by the commissioner and the
   16  public health law.
   17    S 27. Subdivision 5 of section 6909 of the education law, as added  by
   18  chapter 573 of the laws of 1999, is amended to read as follows:
   19    5.  A registered professional nurse may execute a non-patient specific
   20  regimen prescribed or ordered  by  a  licensed  physician,  A  PHYSICIAN
   21  ASSISTANT  UNDER  THE  SUPERVISION  OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN or certified
   22  nurse practitioner, pursuant to regulations promulgated by  the  commis-
   23  sioner.
   24    S  28. Section 6957 of the education law, as amended by chapter 328 of
   25  the laws of 1992, is amended to read as follows:
   26    S 6957. Exempt persons.  Nothing in this article shall be construed to
   27  affect, prevent or in any manner expand or limit any duty  or  responsi-
   28  bility of a licensed physician OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPER-
   29  VISION  OF  A LICENSED PHYSICIAN, from practicing midwifery or affect or
   30  prevent a medical student,  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANT  STUDENT  or  midwifery
   31  student  in clinical practice under the supervision of a licensed physi-
   32  cian or board certified obstetrician/gynecologist  or  licensed  midwife
   33  practicing  [pursuant  to  the provisions of section twenty-five hundred
   34  sixty of the public health law] in pursuance of an  educational  program
   35  registered by the department from engaging in such practice.
   36    S  29. Section 7901 of the education law, as amended by chapter 460 of
   37  the laws of 2011, is amended to read as follows:
   38    S 7901. Definition. The practice of  the  profession  of  occupational
   39  therapy is defined as the functional evaluation of the client, the plan-
   40  ning and utilization of a program of purposeful activities, the develop-
   41  ment  and  utilization  of a treatment program, and/or consultation with
   42  the client, family, caregiver  or  organization  in  order  to  restore,
   43  develop  or  maintain  adaptive  skills,  and/or  performance  abilities
   44  designed to achieve maximal physical, cognitive and  mental  functioning
   45  of  the client associated with his or her activities of daily living and
   46  daily life tasks. A treatment  program  designed  to  restore  function,
   47  shall be rendered on the prescription or referral of a physician, PHYSI-
   48  CIAN  ASSISTANT  UNDER  THE  SUPERVISION  OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN, nurse
   49  practitioner or other health care provider  acting  within  his  or  her
   50  scope  of practice pursuant to this title. However, nothing contained in
   51  this article shall be construed to  permit  any  licensee  hereunder  to
   52  practice medicine or psychology, including psychotherapy or to otherwise
   53  expand  such  licensee's  scope of practice beyond what is authorized by
   54  this chapter.
       S. 2254--A                          9
    1    S 30. Subdivision 7 of section 461-c of the social  services  law,  as
    2  amended  by  chapter  168  of  the  laws  of 2011, is amended to read as
    3  follows:
    4    7.  (a)  At the time of the admission to an adult care facility, other
    5  than a shelter for adults, a resident shall submit  to  the  facility  a
    6  written  report from a physician, a physician assistant UNDER THE SUPER-
    7  VISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN, or a nurse  practitioner,  which  report
    8  shall state:
    9    (i) that the physician, physician assistant UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A
   10  LICENSED  PHYSICIAN,  or  nurse practitioner has physically examined the
   11  resident within one month and the date of such examination;
   12    (ii) that the resident is not in need of acute or long term medical or
   13  nursing care which would require placement in a hospital or  residential
   14  health care facility; and
   15    (iii)  that  the  resident  is  not  otherwise  medically  or mentally
   16  unsuited for care in the facility.
   17    (b) For the purpose of creating an accessible and available record and
   18  assuring that a resident is properly placed  in  such  a  facility,  the
   19  report shall also contain the resident's significant medical history and
   20  current  conditions,  the prescribed medication regimen, and recommenda-
   21  tions for diet, the assistance needed in the activities of daily  living
   22  and  where  appropriate,  recommendations  for  exercise, recreation and
   23  frequency of medical examinations.
   24    (c) Such resident shall thereafter  be  examined  by  a  physician,  a
   25  physician  assistant UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN, or a
   26  nurse practitioner, at least annually and shall submit an annual written
   27  report in conformity with the provisions of this subdivision.
   28    (d) Following a resident's stay in a hospital  or  residential  health
   29  care  facility,  upon  return to the adult care facility, the adult care
   30  facility shall not be required to obtain the report in paragraph (a)  of
   31  this  subdivision,  and  instead  shall  obtain  a  statement  from  the
   32  discharging facility which shall:
   33    (i) state that the resident is appropriate to return to the  facility;
   34  and
   35    (ii) include the reason for the resident's stay, the treatment plan to
   36  be followed, and any new or changed orders, including medications.
   37    The statement shall be completed by a physician, a physician assistant
   38  UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF A LICENSED PHYSICIAN, or a nurse practitioner.
   39    (e) Nothing required in this section shall require the use of an iden-
   40  tical  form  in  adult  care  facilities and assisted living residences,
   41  either upon admission or return.
   42    S 31. Paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of subdivision 1 of section 13-b  of
   43  the  workers' compensation law, as amended by chapter 473 of the laws of
   44  2000, are amended to read as follows:
   45    (a) Any physician licensed to practice medicine in the  state  of  New
   46  York  OR  A  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANT UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF SUCH A
   47  LICENSED PHYSICIAN may render emergency medical care under this  chapter
   48  without authorization by the chair under this section; and
   49    (b)  A  licensed  physician  who  is a member of a constituted medical
   50  staff of any hospital OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE  DIRECT  SUPER-
   51  VISION  OF SUCH A LICENSED PHYSICIAN, may render medical care under this
   52  chapter while an injured employee remains a patient  in  such  hospital;
   53  and
   54    (c)  CONSISTENT WITH ARTICLE THIRTY-SEVEN OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH LAW AND
   55  ARTICLE ONE HUNDRED THIRTY-ONE-B OF THE EDUCATION LAW, MEDICAL CARE  MAY
   56  BE  RENDERED  BY A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF A
       S. 2254--A                         10
    1  LICENSED AUTHORIZED PHYSICIAN. Under the active and personal supervision
    2  of an authorized physician medical care may be rendered by a  registered
    3  nurse  or  other  person  trained in laboratory or diagnostic techniques
    4  within  the  scope  of such person's specialized training and qualifica-
    5  tions.  This  supervision  shall  be  evidenced  by  signed  records  of
    6  instructions for treatment and signed records of the patient's condition
    7  and progress. Reports of such treatment and supervision shall be made by
    8  such physician to the chair on such forms and at such times as the chair
    9  may require.
   10    S  32.  Paragraph (d) of subdivision 3 of section 13-c of the workers'
   11  compensation law, as added by chapter 828 of the laws of 1975,  subpara-
   12  graph  (ii) as amended and subparagraph (iii) as added by chapter 803 of
   13  the laws of 1983, and subparagraph (iv) as added and subparagraph (v) as
   14  renumbered by chapter 649 of the laws of 1985, is  amended  to  read  as
   15  follows:
   16    (d) (i) A physician rendering medical care at a medical center author-
   17  ized,  OR  A  PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF SUCH A
   18  PHYSICIAN, hereunder must be authorized to render such care pursuant  to
   19  this  chapter  and  he OR SHE shall limit his OR HER professional activ-
   20  ities hereunder to such medical care as his OR HER experience and train-
   21  ing qualify him OR HER to render.
   22    (ii) When para-medical, laboratory or X-ray services or other  medical
   23  care  is  required  it  shall be rendered, under the active and personal
   24  supervision of an authorized physician, by a registered nurse  or  other
   25  person  trained  in laboratory or diagnostic techniques within the scope
   26  of such person's specialized training and  qualifications.  This  super-
   27  vision  shall  be evidenced by signed records of instructions for treat-
   28  ment and signed records of the patient's condition and progress. Reports
   29  of such treatment and supervision shall be made by such physician to the
   30  chairman on such forms and at such times as the chairman may require.
   31    (iii) When physical therapy care is required it shall be rendered by a
   32  duly licensed physical therapist upon the referral which may  be  direc-
   33  tive  as  to  treatment  of an authorized physician, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
   34  UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF SUCH PHYSICIAN or podiatrist within  the
   35  scope  of  such physical therapist's specialized training and qualifica-
   36  tions as defined in article one hundred thirty-six of the education law.
   37  Reports of such treatment and records of instruction for  treatment,  if
   38  any, shall be maintained by the physical therapist and referring profes-
   39  sional  and submitted to the chairman on such forms and at such times as
   40  the chairman may require.
   41    (iv) When occupational therapy care is required it shall  be  rendered
   42  by  a  duly  licensed  and  registered  occupational  therapist upon the
   43  prescription or referral of an authorized physician OR PHYSICIAN ASSIST-
   44  ANT UNDER THE DIRECT SUPERVISION OF SUCH PHYSICIAN within the  scope  of
   45  such occupational therapist's specialized training and qualifications as
   46  defined  in  article one hundred fifty-six of the education law. Reports
   47  of such treatment and records of  instruction  for  treatment,  if  any,
   48  shall  be maintained by the occupational therapist and referring profes-
   49  sional and submitted to the chairman on such forms and at such times  as
   50  the chairman may require.
   51    (v)  The  physician  rendering  the medical care hereunder shall be in
   52  charge of the care unless, in his OR HER judgment, it  is  necessary  to
   53  refer  the  case  to  a specially trained and qualified physician, which
   54  physician shall then assume complete responsibility for and  supervision
   55  of any further medical care rendered.
       S. 2254--A                         11
    1    S  33.  Subdivisions  (d),  (e) and (f) of section 33.04 of the mental
    2  hygiene law, subdivisions (d) and (f) as added by  chapter  779  of  the
    3  laws  of 1977, such section as renumbered and subdivision (e) as amended
    4  by chapter 334 of the laws of 1980, are amended to read as follows:
    5    (d)  Restraint  shall be effected only by written order of a physician
    6  OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF SUCH PHYSICIAN after a
    7  personal examination of the patient except in an emergency situation, as
    8  provided by subdivision (e) of this section. The order shall  set  forth
    9  the  facts  justifying the restraint and shall specify the nature of the
   10  restraint and any conditions for maintaining the restraint.   The  order
   11  shall  also  set forth the time of expiration of the authorization, with
   12  such order to apply for a period of no more than four  hours,  provided,
   13  however,  that any such order imposing restraint after nine o'clock p.m.
   14  may extend until nine o'clock a.m. of the next day.   A full  record  of
   15  restraint,  including  all signed orders of physicians, shall be kept in
   16  the patient's file and shall be  subject  to  inspection  by  authorized
   17  persons.
   18    (e)  If an emergency situation exists in which the patient is engaging
   19  in activity that presents an immediate danger  to  himself,  HERSELF  or
   20  others and a physician OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF
   21  SUCH  PHYSICIAN  is not immediately available, restraint may be effected
   22  only to the extent  necessary  to  prevent  the  patient  from  injuring
   23  himself or others at the direction of the senior member of the staff who
   24  is present.  The senior staff member shall cause a physician OR A PHYSI-
   25  CIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF SUCH PHYSICIAN to be immediately
   26  summoned and shall record the time of the call and the person contacted.
   27  Pending  the  arrival  of a physician OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE
   28  SUPERVISION OF SUCH PHYSICIAN, the patient shall be kept under  constant
   29  supervision.  If  a  physician OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPER-
   30  VISION OF SUCH PHYSICIAN does not arrive within thirty minutes of  being
   31  summoned,  the  senior  staff  member shall record any such delay in the
   32  patient's clinical record and also place  into  the  patient's  clinical
   33  record  a  written  description  of  the  facts justifying the emergency
   34  restraint which shall specify the nature of the restraint and any condi-
   35  tions for maintaining the restraint until the arrival of a physician  OR
   36  A  PHYSICIAN  ASSISTANT  UNDER  THE  SUPERVISION  OF SUCH PHYSICIAN, the
   37  reasons why less restrictive forms of restraint were  not  used,  and  a
   38  description  of  the  steps  taken  to  assure that the patient's needs,
   39  comfort and safety were properly cared for. Such physician OR  A  PHYSI-
   40  CIAN  ASSISTANT  UNDER  THE SUPERVISION OF SUCH PHYSICIAN shall place in
   41  the clinical record an explanation for any such delay.
   42    (f) During the time that a patient is in restraint, he OR SHE shall be
   43  monitored to see that his OR HER physical needs, comfort, and safety are
   44  properly cared for. An assessment of the patient's  condition  shall  be
   45  made at least once every thirty minutes or at more frequent intervals as
   46  directed  by  a physician OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION
   47  OF SUCH PHYSICIAN. The assessment shall be recorded and  placed  in  the
   48  patient's  file. A patient in restraint shall be released from restraint
   49  at least every two hours, except when asleep. If at any time  a  patient
   50  upon  being  released  from restraint makes no overt gestures that would
   51  threaten serious harm or injury to himself, HERSELF or others, restraint
   52  shall not be reimposed and a physician shall  be  immediately  notified.
   53  Restraint  shall not be reimposed in such situation unless in the physi-
   54  cian's OR A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT'S UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF  SUCH  PHYSI-
   55  CIAN  professional  judgment  release would be harmful to the patient or
   56  others.
       S. 2254--A                         12
    1    S 34. Paragraph e of subdivision 1 of section 406 of the general busi-
    2  ness law, as amended by chapter 600 of the laws of 2002, is  amended  to
    3  read as follows:
    4    e.  Each  application  shall be accompanied by a certificate of a duly
    5  licensed physician, A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF  SUCH
    6  A  PHYSICIAN  or  nurse practitioner to the extent authorized by law and
    7  consistent with the written practice agreement pursuant  to  subdivision
    8  three of section six thousand nine hundred two of the education law on a
    9  form prescribed by the secretary, showing freedom from any infectious or
   10  communicable  disease  which  certificate  shall have been issued within
   11  thirty days prior to the date of the filing of the application.
   12    S 35. This act shall take effect immediately.
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