In Continued Momentum at the State Level, Kentucky Makes Critical Improvements to State’s PA Practice Environment

April 14, 2026

Kentucky lawmakers have taken action to modernize the state’s PA healthcare workforce and improve patient access to quality, timely healthcare. On April 10, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed SB 116 into law, a major healthcare bill that removes decades-old practice laws and strengthens Kentucky’s PA workforce and delivery of care.

The legislation, championed by the Kentucky Academy of Physician Assistants (KAPA) and sponsored by Sen. Scott Madon (R-Pineville), permits a PA’s scope of practice to be determined at the practice level. This important change will allow Kentucky’s 2,000+ PAs to deliver high-quality, team-based care with greater efficiency.

SB 116 makes other critical updates to the state’s practice laws, such as allowing PAs to prescribe Schedule II controlled substances and perform driver’s license vision testing.

“SB 116 updates Kentucky law to allow PAs more flexibility which will enable healthcare teams to operate more efficiently,” said KAPA Government Affairs Committee Chair Andrew Rutherford, PA-C, MBA. “This bill is a win for providers, patients, and the future of healthcare in the state, and we applaud Gov. Beshear and Kentucky’s lawmakers for recognizing the importance of this legislation.”

Kentucky now joins a growing list of states advancing policy priorities this year to better leverage PAs to meet growing patient demands for care.

SB 116 is part of a broader national trend towards improving PA practice environments to be more flexible and better reflective of how care is delivered today. State lawmakers across the country are recognizing that modernizing PA practice laws is essential to alleviating provider shortages and expanding access to care.

By updating outdated statues, Kentucky and several other states are empowering healthcare teams to deliver more efficient services without compromising safety or quality of care.

You May Also Like:
Advocacy in Action: Mid-year Progress, Reflections, and So Much More yet to Come!
Iowa Marks Major Milestone with Passage of Title Change Legislation
Legislation Signed by Virginia Governor Spanberger Will Optimize PA Workforce, Expand Patient Access to Care