Washington State Enacts Improvements to PA Practice Laws

Bill Removes Requirements for Commission Approval of Practice Agreements

March 27, 2020

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee has signed HB 2378 enacting several improvements for PA practice in the state including the removal of requirements for Commission approval of practice agreements and Commission approval for PA practice in remote sites.

The bill is the result of the hard work of the Washington Academy of PAs (WAPA) and was their 2020 legislative priority. “We’re happy to finally see the repeal of unnecessary administrative requirements and look forward to continued modernization of PA laws in the state” said WAPA president Eileen Ravella, PA-C.

HB 2378’s key changes include:

• Removes requirement that practice agreements be approved by the Washington Medical Commission
• Removes requirement for Commission approval to employ or work with a PA
• Removes requirement for Commission approval for PAs to practice in remote sites
• Increases the physician/PA ratio from 1:5 to 1:10 with the option to request a higher ratio
• Moves all licensing and regulation of PAs under the state’s allopathic board and removes this responsibility from the osteopathic board.

During the bill signing, Governor Inslee stated “This bill modernizes the physician assistant profession so that we can increase access to providers. These changes will reduce the administrative burdens and allow PAs to start practicing sooner.”

AAPA’s state advocacy staff provided support to WAPA’s pursuit of this bill and are pleased to see the repeal of provisions WAPA and AAPA have worked together to remove for many years. The bill was supported by the Washington State Medical Association and the Washington Medical Commission.

Most provisions of HB 2378 become effective July 1, 2021.

For more information, contact Keisha Pitts, JD, director of constituent organization outreach and advocacy, at [email protected].