Providers
Chapter 11
Section 3.13
Certified
Physician Assistant (PA)
Issue Date: July 9, 1990
Revision:
2.0 POLICY
2.1 A PA may
provide covered services under general supervision of a physician.
The PA must meet the applicable state requirements governing the
qualifications for PAs 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 PAs 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 PAs 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.
2.2 Physician
Supervision. Physician supervision may be remote and does not require
direct contact between the physician and PA at the time the care
is rendered. The employing physician must be immediately available
to the PA for consultation purposes by telephone. Evidence of referral
by the physician is not required.
2.3 Prescriptions
may be written by authorized PAs if practicing within the scope
of their license, certification or other legal authorization.
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 PA being placed in unauthorized TRICARE provider status).
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