PAs in Virginia Attain Collaboration

Removes References to Supervision to Describe Team Practice

March 1, 2019

On Feb. 22 Virginia Gov. Ralph S. Northam signed HB 1952/SB 1209 into law. The legislation, which becomes effective July 1, 2019, was a priority bill for the Virginia Academy of PAs (VAPA) and authorizes PAs to practice “in collaboration and consultation” with patient care team physicians (or podiatrists).  In addition to removing all references to “supervision” to describe team practice, the new law also deletes references to a “delegated scope of practice” and permits PA scope of practice to be determined at the practice level by the patient care team. The legislation was supported by the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV), the Virginia Academy of Family Physicians, and several other state medical organizations. The Virginia Board of Medicine will have 280 days to promulgate regulations to implement the provisions of the new law.

With the enactment of this bill, seven states now use a term other than “supervision” to describe how PAs and physicians work together.

For more information on this legislation or PA practice in Virginia, contact Stephanie Radix, senior director, AAPA state advocacy & outreach.