Physician Assistants
Effective Date: July 1, 2016

Governor Scott signed HB 375 into law on Monday, March 28, 2016.  It relates to Physician Assistants (PA) and includes the following changes to the law:

• • At renewal, PA must acknowledge that he/she has completed a minimum of ten (10) hours continuing medical education in the specialty practice in which the PA has prescriptive privileges. A signed affidavit is no longer required.
  • PA may perform services delegated by the supervising physician in the PA’s practice in accordance with his/her education and training unless expressly prohibited under Chapter 458, Florida Statutes or the rules adopted by the Board of Medicine or Chapter 459, Florida Statutes or the rules adopted by the Board of Osteopathic Medicine.
  • Prescriptions may be written in paper or electronic form but must comply with sections 456.0392(1) and 456.42(1), Florida Statutes.

• • Changes to requirements for licensure:

• No longer need two letters of recommendation;
• No longer required to submit a sworn, notarized statement regarding criminal history; and
• Deletes obsolete provisions related to administering a licensure examination for certain foreign-trained PA applicants.

These changes effect PA’s that practice with allopathic physicians and osteopathic physicians.

To read the entire bill, click here.