CAPA makes a first formal introduction to all CA legislators by mailing out an information packet to each

CAPA initiates AB 644, a bill allowing PA Professional Corporations and PAs may become shareholders in Medical Corporations – Bill passes

CAPA uses all of its efforts and resources to kill AB 3043, a bill which would have had a devastating impact on PA practice in California

CAPA initiates AB 1912, a bill granting PAs the authority to do certain DMV physicals and sign certain DMV forms

CAPA does its homework, lays the groundwork and gears up to introduce the PA prescriptive bill

AB 535, a bill allowing PAs to administer methadone

CAPA’s work pays off. PA regulations enacted clarifying that PAs are “agents of their supervising physician” and may issue orders to nurses among other things

CAPA finishes final preparation to introduce SB 1642 – the PA Prescriptive Bill

SB 1642 is signed into law. PAs can issue written prescription drug orders

CAPA’s work to educate the California Pharmacy Board pays off. The CPB acknowledges that PAs may write drug orders for Schedule II through V meds

Special supervisory license and fees for supervising physicians (SPs) were eliminated

CAPA introduces SB 1558, a bill that allows PAs to sign for the request and receipt of pharmaceutical samples

Co-signature requirement for Drug Orders lessened, except for Schedule II

CAPA sponsored legislation to expand MA supervision by PAs to other outpatient settings

CAPA works to clarify the issue of chart co-signature for Medi-Cal patients and sponsors legislation which would allow PAs to sign for disability placards. CAPA works to kill SB 1423 – a bill which would negatively change PA supervision.

CAPA sponsored AB 3 which removed many long-standing problems which burdened our physician partners and provided barriers to our patients seeking our care. AB 3 specifically addressed four major issues:

• • • Patient-Specific Authority for scheduled medications
    • Ratios of Supervising Physicians to Physician Assistants
    • Chart Countersignature
    • Medi-Cal Covered Procedure Codes

AB 638 created a program which assumes the student loans up to a total of $20,000 for physician assistants who agree to work in a medically underserved area for four years.

CAPA sponsored SB 171 which clarifies an inconsistency in existing law by allowing physician assistants to conduct medical examinations on applicants seeking employment by a school district or a county superintendent of schools.

CAPA sponsored SB 1069 which allows PAs to sign numerous types of patient medical forms which previously specifically required a physician signature.

CAPA sponsored SB 233 in response to an audit which threatened the jobs of PAs working in the Emergency Department. This bill clarified that PAs in California can provide evaluation, treatment and specialty consultation in the Emergency Department setting.

CAPA sponsored SB 352 to allow physician assistants to supervise medical assistants across all medical office settings.

CAPA sponsored SB 1083 which amends the Physician Assistant Practice Act to authorize a PA to certify Employment Development Department (EDD) disability claims, after performance of a physical examination by the PA under the supervision of a physician and surgeon. The bill also expands the definition of practitioner to include a PA.

CAPA sponsored SB 337. This key legislation removes barriers to working in teams with PA creating new, innovative and more meaningful ways to document supervision. It also reduces the number of Schedule II medical records which need to be reviewed from 100% to 20% if the PA has completed a specific, approved 6-hour controlled substances education course.

CAPA sponsored SB 997, Monning. Health care service plans: physician to enrollee ratios; a necessary step to ensure that CAPA’s 2013 sponsored bill, SB 494, was not repealed (sunsetted) on January 1, 2019. As a result of SB 494, for the past four years health plans have increased provider access for patients and have improved compliance with timely access laws. SB 997 ensures this can continue.