05 LC 28
2202
Senate
Bill 173
By:
Senators Unterman of the 45th, Thomas of the 54th, Smith of the 52nd and Henson
of the 41st
A
BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
AN ACT
To
amend Code Section 43-34-103 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to application for physician´s assistant and scope of duties, so as to
authorize physician´s assistants to enter into certain temporary practice
agreements to provide services at certain facilities; to provide conditions and
limitations on such temporary practice agreements; to provide for related
matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Code
Section 43-34-103 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to
application for physician´s assistant and scope of duties, is amended by
adding a new subsection (h) to read as follows:
"(h)
A physician and a physician´s assistant may enter into a temporary practice
agreement exempt from any filing fees with the board by which agreement the
physician supervises the services provided by the physician´s assistant to
patients at a specific facility or program operated by any organization exempt
from federal taxes pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the federal Internal Revenue
Code, provided that:
(1)
Such services are provided primarily to financially disadvantaged
patients;
(2)
Such services are free or at a charge to the patient based solely on the
patient´s ability to pay and provided, further, that such charges do not
exceed the actual cost to the facility or program;
(3)
The supervising physician and the physician´s assistant voluntarily and
gratuitously donate their services;
(4)
A copy of the temporary practice agreement, signed by both the supervising
physician and the physician´s assistant, is on file at the facility or
program and is sent to the board;
(5)
The temporary practice agreement is for a specified period of time, limits the
services of the physician´s assistant to those within the usual scope of
practice of the supervising physician, and is signed by both the supervising
physician and the physician´s assistant prior to the physician´s
assistant providing patient services; and
(6)
The facility or program has notified the board of its intent to provide patient
services and utilize licensed physicians and physician´s assistants under
the conditions set out in this
subsection."
SECTION
2.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.