Three Landmark Bills to Modernize PA Practice and Expand Access to Care Become Law in Alaska
June 24, 2026
In less than a week, Alaska took several significant steps forward in modernizing PA practice in the state through passage of SB 89, HB 110, and HB 195, marking an exciting moment for the PA profession and for Alaska’s patients. All three bills make critical updates to outdated state statutes and remove barriers for the state’s more than 700 PAs to practice.
Under SB 89, Alaska moves from supervision to collaboration by removing requirements for PAs working in many facility-based settings to maintain formal collaborative agreements with physicians in order to practice. The bill, which takes effect on September 16, also holds PAs responsible for the care they provide, as well as regulates PAs through the Alaska State Medical Board.
SB 89 earned broad support from the Alaska State Medical Association and tribal/rural health stakeholders. The bill was also championed by Representative Andrew Gray, who understood the importance of updating the state’s PA practice laws and helped build strong bipartisan support to carry the bill across the finish line.
“SB 89 is about recognizing the vital role PAs have played in Alaska for more than 50 years and ensuring that role is protected for generations to come,” said Alaska Academy of PAs Advocacy Chair Jenny Fayette, PA-C. “By placing PAs into statute for the first time, this bill provides stability, strengthens access to care, and reflects the trust Alaskans already place in their physician associates every day.”
HB 110, an initiative that was included as part of the state’s Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) application, joined Alaska into the PA Licensure Compact as the 26th state. This is not only a critical update to allow PAs to more easily practice across member states, but helps improve access to care, particularly in Alaska’s rural and underserved communities.
In a state where healthcare access is already a challenge, outdated barriers too often stood between highly educated and qualified providers and the patients who needed them. Utilizing PAs to their full extent is critical in a state where nearly one in five PAs are practicing in rural settings.
Finally, through HB 195, Alaska became the 6th state in the nation to officially adopt title change! With a decisive 43-vote override of the governor’s veto, the bill passed to formally update the state’s statutes to recognize “physician associate” as the title of the profession, reflecting the continued evolution of PA practice in Alaska.
Through passage of SB 89, HB 110, and HB 195, Alaska joins a growing number of states recognizing the importance of removing barriers to PA practice and making major legislative changes to do so.
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