Physician Assistants and Registered Specialist Assistants' Scope of Practice

Study Notes

A licensed physician assistant or registered specialist assistant must perform medical services under the continuous supervision of a physician, but the supervising physician does not need to be physically present.
The licensed physician assistant or registered specialist assistant must keep records of the continuous supervision.

Medical acts, duties, and responsibilities performed by a licensed physician assistant or registered specialist assistant must:
- Be assigned by the supervising physician
- Be within the scope of practice of the supervising physician
- Be appropriate to the education, training, and experience of the licensed physician assistant or registered specialist assistant

A physician may not employ or supervise more than four licensed physician assistants and two registered specialist assistants in their private practice.
A physician may not supervise more than six licensed physician assistants or registered specialist assistants (or any combination thereof) in a hospital setting.

A licensed physician assistant may issue prescriptions, certifications, and medical orders when assigned by the supervising physician.
Prescriptions must:
- Be issued in accordance with Section 281 and Article 33 of the Public Health Law and Part 80 of this Title
- Be written on the blank form of the supervising physician
- Include the name, address, and telephone number of the supervising physician and the name of the licensed physician assistant
- Bear the name, address, and age of the patient and the date on which the prescription was issued
A licensed physician assistant may prescribe controlled substances under Section 3306 of the Public Health Law, provided that such prescriptions shall be issued in accordance with Section 281 and Article 33 of the Public Health Law and Part 80 of this Title.

A licensed physician assistant shall sign all prescriptions with their own name followed by the letters P.A. and their State Education Department license number.
A licensed physician assistant employed or extended privileges by a hospital may register as a practitioner under Part 1004 of this Title to issue patient certifications for medical marihuana.

A physician supervising or employing a licensed physician assistant or registered specialist assistant remains medically responsible for the medical services performed by the licensed physician assistant or registered specialist assistant.