AAPA Engages Federal Trade Commission Over Proposed Rules in Maine

Provisions Add New Barriers to PA Practice

November 2, 2020

On Oct. 28, 2020, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent correspondence to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine and the Maine Board of Osteopathic Licensure regarding proposed regulations to implement Maine’s legislation (LD 1660), an Act to Improve Access to Physician Assistant Care, which was signed into law in March.

The letter from the FTC was the result of AAPA and state legislators in Maine writing to the FTC to voice concerns over provisions in the proposed rules that went further than the intent of the lawand that added new barriers to PA practice.

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In its correspondence, the FTC encouraged the Maine Boards to keep previous guidance from the FTC in mind while deciding on the final rules. The FTC was not able to write a more thorough correspondence to the boards because there was not enough time to conduct the research and analysis necessary to do so before the comments were due. But we are encouraged the FTC felt this issue was still important enough to let the Maine boards know their proposed regulations caught the Commission’s attention. In addition to the correspondence from the FTC, AAPA also submitted comments outlining our numerous concerns with the proposed regulations.

AAPA will continue to work with the Maine Association of PAs to ensure the legislative intent of LD 1660 is reflected in the rules adopted by the boards. For more information on these proposed regulations, the correspondence with the FTC, or PA practice in Maine, please contact Carson Walker, director, state advocacy and outreach.

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