Recently, CAPA was made aware that healthcare administrators and some PAs were announcing “changes to PA practice” that would add administrative burden to PAs’ already busy patient loads. Healthcare systems and PA forums alike were proclaiming that “Amendment 1399.546” had repealed SB 697, now requiring PAs to include the name of their supervising physician in all notes moving forward.

This month’s CAPA resource is to clarify, unequivocally, that these recent announcements are wrong, and there appears to be dissemination of false information from healthcare administrators and some PAs.

“Amendment 1399.546” is not an amendment. It is an outdated regulation. When SB 697 was passed in 2019, it eliminated all co-charting, co-signatures, and the need for uniform supervisory protocols, including the need to include a supervising physician’s name in all notes. SB 697 supersedes any and all old statutes and regulations that previously governed PA practice.

Physician Assistant Board President, Deon Vasco Kidd, PA-C, has verified, “Under SB 697, PAs are no longer required to report a supervising physician for each episode of care in the outpatient setting. That framework was replaced with the practice agreement model set forth in statute. At [our] August 15, 2025, meeting, the Board approved text to repeal CCR (California Code of Regulations) section 1399.546. The regulatory package has been submitted to OAL (Office of Administrative Law) …Upon approval and filing with the Secretary of State, the repeal will become effective pursuant to the normal regulatory process. In the meantime, statute controls, and PAs should follow the practice agreement requirements set forth in SB 697.”

For the most updated and accurate information about PA practice, CAPA has a complete SB 697 toolkit for PAs to reference and share with their administrative teams. Members may access and download them at CAPA’s Practice Support library.