2.1 A Physician
Assistant (PA) may provide covered services under general supervision
of a physician. The physician assistant must meet the applicable
state requirements governing the qualifications for physician assistants
and at least one of the following conditions:
2.1.1 Is currently
certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician
Assistants to assist primary care physicians, or
2.1.2 Has
satisfactorily completed a program for preparing physician assistants
that:
2.1.2.1 Was at least one academic year
in length;
2.1.2.2 Consisted of supervised clinical
practice and at least 4 months (in the aggregate) of classroom instruction
directed toward preparing students to deliver health care; and
2.1.2.3 Was accredited by the American
Medical Association’s (AMA’s) Committee on Allied Health Education
and Accreditation; or
2.1.3 Has satisfactorily
completed a formal educational program for preparing physician assistants
that does not meet the requirements of
paragraph 2.1.2 and had been
assisting primary care physicians for a minimum of 12 months during
the 18-month period immediately preceding January 1, 1987.
2.1.4 If state licensure is available,
it is required even if the state offers licensure on a voluntary basis.
2.4 PA services covered are those
within the scope of the PA’s practice as provided by state law and
32 CFR 199.6 that are defined as authorized
benefits when rendered by physicians. The employing physician must
be an authorized provider (e.g., a physician under sanction by TRICARE
also results in his or her physician assistant being placed in unauthorized
TRICARE provider status).