New York Governor Signs Three Bills to Advance PA Practice, Streamline Healthcare Delivery

December 11, 2024

New York’s Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law three pieces of legislation that enhance the role of physician associates/physician assistants (PAs) throughout the state. These bills – A.8378-A/S.9038-A, A.8247-C/S.8470-A, A.8232-A/S.8561 – represent a critical step forward in maximizing the ability of PAs to contribute to high-quality, accessible care for all New Yorkers.

The signing of A.8378-A/S.9038-A, effective February 22, 2025, increases physician-to-PA ratios in private physician practices from 1:4 to 1:6, and in Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) facilities from 1:6 to 1:8. The bill allows PAs to prescribe durable medical equipment and write non-patient specific standing orders. A.8378-A/S.9038-A also includes provisions for maintaining prescription records, such as removing the requirement for a physician’s name to be listed. These changes will better streamline patient care while providing more flexibility to healthcare teams to better meet the growing needs of patients across the state.

A.8247-C/S.8470-A allows PAs to supervise radiologic technicians who perform intravenous administration of contrast media when needed during an x-ray or imaging procedure. The third bill, A.8232-A/S.8561, expands eligibility for appointments to county boards of health and health services advisory boards to include nurse practitioners and PAs.

These achievements are the result of years of dedicated advocacy by the New York State Society of Physician Assistants (NYSSPA), which has been working tirelessly to ensure that PAs are empowered to practice effectively within New York’s healthcare system. NYSSPA’s President Jonathan Sobel, DMSc, MBA, PA-C expressed gratitude for the collective effort: “These bills represent another major milestone towards improving healthcare delivery across New York. With these legislative wins, PAs will have more tools to improve patient access to care, work more efficiently, and provide essential services across a variety of settings. We look forward to continuing our work alongside Governor Hochul and the legislature to further elevate and advance the PA profession in the years to come.”

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