Notice of Proposed Rule

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Board of Medicine
Rule No.: RULE TITLE
64B8-30.003: Physician Assistant Licensure
PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The proposed rule amendments are intended to incorporate the revised Supervision Data Form, the revised Application for Licensure As a Prescribing Physician Assistant, and the Application for Changes to the Prescribing License into the rule. In addition, the rule amendments clarify the rule with regard to dispensing physician assistants.
SUMMARY: The proposed rule amendments incorporate the revised Supervision Data Form, the revised Application for Licensure As a Prescribing Physician Assistant, and the Application for Changes to the Prescribing License into the rule. Additionally, the rule amendments clarify the rule by removing the requirement for the 3 months of clinical experience, and require physicians who elect dispensing by their prescribing physician assistants to complete and submit the appropriate form for the delegation of dispensing.
SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS: No Statement of Estimated Regulatory Cost was prepared. The Board has determined that the proposed rule amendments will not have an impact on small business.
Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs, or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.
SPECIFIC AUTHORITY: 456.013, 456.031(2), 456.033(6), 458.309, 458.347 FS.
LAW IMPLEMENTED: 456.013, 456.017, 456.031, 456.033, 458.347 FS.
IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN FAW.
THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Larry McPherson, Jr., Executive Director, Board of Medicine/MQA, 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin #C03, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3253

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

64B8-30.003 Physician Assistant Licensure.

(1) Requirements for Licensure.

(a) All applicants for licensure as physician assistants shall submit an application to the Department. The application shall be made on Form DH-MQA 2000, entitled “Application for Licensure as a Physician Assistant,” (revised 10/09), hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, and can be obtained from the Board of Medicine’s website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/PhysAsst/index.html. The applicant must meet all of the requirements of Section 458.347(7) or 459.022(7), F.S., and the applicant must submit two personalized and individualized letters of recommendation from physicians. Letters of recommendation must be composed and signed by the applicant’s supervising physician, or, for recent graduates, the preceptor physician, and give details of the applicant’s clinical skills and ability. Each letter must be addressed to and directed to the Council on Physician Assistants and must have been written no more than six months prior to the filing of the application.

(b) In addition, upon employment, a licensed physician assistant must notify the Board of Medicine, in writing, utilizing Form DH-MQA 2004, entitled “Supervision Data Form,” (revised 8/10), hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, which can be obtained from the Board of Medicine’s website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/PhysAsst/index.html, within 30 days of such employment. Any subsequent changes to the physician assistant’s employment must also be made, in writing, within 30 days of such change, utilizing this same form.

(2) through (4) No change.

(5) Licensure as a Prescribing Physician Assistant.

(a) An applicant for licensure as a prescribing physician assistant shall, together with the supervising physician, jointly submit file the “Application for Licensure As a Prescribing Physician Assistant” DH-MQA 2001 (Revised 8/10), which is hereby incorporated by reference and can be obtained from the Board of Medicine’s website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/PhysAsst/index.html application for licensure as set forth in Rule 64B8-1.007, F.A.C. The same application form may be utilized by any alternate supervising physicians, provided that all supervising physicians practice in the same specialty area and in the same practice setting. A separate application form shall be required for each distinct specialty area of practice, as well as for each distinct practice setting. Satellite offices within the same practice do not constitute distinct practices.

(b) The applicant shall have completed a 3 hour course approved by the Board in prescriptive practice, which course shall cover the limitations, responsibilities, and privileges involved in prescribing medicinal drugs.

(c) The fee for licensure as a prescribing Physician Assistant shall be as set forth in Rule 64B8-30.013, F.A.C., and shall be in addition to any other applicable fees in said rule. No additional fees will be required for any separate application for a distinct area of practice, or a change in practice setting during the same biennium.

(d) Changes to the Application as a Prescribing Physician Assistant shall be made on the form entitled “Application for Changes to the Prescribing License,” DH-MQA 2002 (Revised 8/10), which is hereby incorporated by reference and can be obtained from the Board of Medicine’s website at http://www.doh.state.fl.us/mqa/PhysAsst/index.html.

(c) The applicant shall have completed a minimum of 3 months of clinical experience in the specialty area of the supervising physician. For purposes of this rule, this means 3 continuous months of full-time practice or its equivalent, following full licensure as a physician assistant, within 4 years immediately preceding the filing of the application.

(6) Registration as a dispensing physician assistant shall be made on the form set forth in subsection 64B8-4.029(4), F.A.C.

Rulemaking Authority 456.013, 456.031(2), 456.033(6), 458.309, 458.347 FS. Law Implemented 456.013, 456.017, 456.031, 456.033, 458.347 FS. History–New 4-28-76, Amended 11-15-78, 10-23-80, 12-4-85, Formerly 21M-17.03, Amended 5-13-87, 11-15-88, 11-15-90, 1-9-92, 5-6-93, Formerly 21M-17.003, Amended 9-21-93, Formerly 61F6-17.003, Amended 9-8-94, 11-30-94, 10-25-95, 3-25-96, Formerly 59R-30.003, Amended 6-7-98, 8-19-99, 5-28-00, 3-3-02, 5-19-03, 10-19-03, 11-17-03, 9-5-05, 12-12-05, 10-30-06, 2-25-07, 5-20-09, 2-2-10,________.


NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Council on Physician Assistants
NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Board of Medicine
DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 6, 2010
DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAW: June 18, 2010