AN ACT relating to physician assistants.
     Amend various sections of KRS Chapter 311 to define the terms "physician assistant", "supervising physician", and "supervision"; direct that physician assistants be considered to practice medicine or osteopathy with physician supervision; allow a physician assistant to perform duties and responsibilities delegated by the supervising physician; prohibit a physician assistant from rendering services in hospitals or other licensed health care facilities without the express written permission of the facility's governing body; allow the facility to restrict the physician assistant's scope of practice within the facility as the facility deems appropriate; allow a physician assistant to prescribe and administer drugs and medical devices as delegated by the supervising physician; allow the prescribing and administering of drugs to include all nonscheduled legend drugs; allow any physician assistant delegated prescribing privileges to request, receive, and sign for professional sample drugs and distribute professional sample drugs to patients; allow physician assistant delegated prescribing privileges to request, receive, and sign for professional sample drugs to patients; create a new section of KRS 311.530 to 311.620 to require the board of medical licensure to issue administrative regulations to carry out the performance of duties imposed by the board related to prescribing privileges for physician assistants; direct the board to establish a 9- member physician assistant advisory committee to review and make recommendations to the board regarding all matters coming before the board relating to physician assistants; provide for advisory committee membership, terms of office, compensation and duties; clarify that KRS Chapter 311 does not require credentialing of a physician assistant student enrolled in an accredited physician assistant or surgeon assistant program or employed by the federal government; amend KRS 314.011, to redefine the term "registered nursing practice" and "licensed practical nursing practice" to include the administration of medication and treatment as prescribed by a physician assistant; amend KRS 315.040, to prohibit anything in the chapter from interfering with the activities of a physician assistant as authorized in KRS Chapter 311; amend KRS 217.015, relating to the state food, drug and cosmetic act, to revise the term "practitioner" to include physician assistants when administering or prescribing pharmaceutical agents.

     (Prefiled by the sponsor(s).)

     Jan 6-introduced in Senate; to Licensing and Occupations (S)
     Jan 22-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Consent Calendar with committee amendment (1)
     Jan 23-2nd reading, to Rules
     Jan 27-posted for passage in the Consent Orders of the Day for January 28, 1998
     Jan 28-3rd reading, passed 37-0 with Committee Amendment (1)
     Jan 29-received in House
     Feb 2-to Health and Welfare (H)
     Feb 11-posted in committee
     Mar 9-posting waived
     Mar 10-reported favorably, 1st reading, to Calendar
     Mar 11-2nd reading, to Rules
     Mar 18-posted for passage in the Regular Orders of the Day for March 19. 1998
     Mar 20-passed over and retained in the Orders of the Day
     Mar 23-3rd reading, passed 90-1
     Mar 24-received in Senate; enrolled, signed by each presiding officer, delivered to Governor
     Apr 1-signed by Governor