Chapter 360-5 PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANTS
The purpose of this Chapter is to implement the
"Physician Assistant Act" of 2009, authorizing the Board to adopt
rules and perform all acts necessary, proper or incidental to the
efficient development of the category of health care as established
therein.
(1) |
An
applicant for licensure as a physician assistant must show to the
satisfaction of the Board the following:
(a) |
An affidavit that the applicant
is a United States citizen, a legal permanent resident of the United
States, or that he/she is a qualified alien or non-immigrant under
the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act. If the applicant is not
a U.S. citizen, he/she must submit documentation that will determine
his/her qualified alien status. The Board participates in the
DHS-USCIS SAVE (Systematic Alien Verification for
Entitlements or "SAVE") program for the purpose of verifying
citizenship and immigration status information of non-citizens. If
the applicant is a qualified alien or non-immigrant under the Federal
Immigration and Nationality Act, he/she must provide the alien number
issued by the Department of Homeland Security or other federal
immigration agency. |
(b) |
Good moral character as demonstrated by two (2) acceptable references
from licensed physicians, who are personally acquainted with the
applicant. These may not be completed by the physician(s) applying
for utilization of the physician assistant. |
(c) |
Evidence of satisfactory
completion of a training program approved by the Board. The Board has
approved or will approve those physician assistant programs of
training offered by accredited colleges or universities, whose
graduates are eligible for the examination administered by either the
NCCPA or NCCAA or their successors, and whose curriculum consists of
two or more academic years, including clinical experience in health
care appropriate to the task of a physician assistant. |
(d) |
Evidence that the applicant has
achieved a passing score on either:
1. |
The certification examination
administered by the National Commission for Certification of
Anesthesiologist Assistants (NCCAA) or its successor, or |
2. |
The certification examination
administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician
Assistants (NCCPA) or its successor. |
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(2) |
Applications for initial
licensure or licensure thereafter as a physician assistant shall be
made upon forms supplied by the Board. |
(3) |
The forms must be completed and
submitted by the physician assistant along with a recent notarized
photograph of the applicant and an application fee. No fee is
required if the applicant is an employee of the state or county
government. |
(4) |
Applications submitted to the Board must be completed in every
detail, unless the response called for is not applicable to the
applicant, and, if so, the response shall be made in that manner with
accompanying explanation. |
(5) |
All applications for licensure
as a physician assistant must be completed and on file with the Board
at least (5) days prior to its meeting, in order to be considered by
the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee and the Board at the next
meeting. |
(6) |
A completed
application for licensure may be denied for any of the reasons set
forth in O.C.G.A. Section
43-34-8. |
(7) |
The physician assistant must
certify that he or she has received, read, and is familiar with the
Medical Practice Act, Physician Assistant Act and Board rules and
regulations by signing the statement on the application. |
(8) |
Upon receipt of all required
documents, the board shall provide notification of approval or
disapproval of the physician assistant application for
licensure. |
(9) |
An
applicant must complete all requirements for licensure within one
year from the date the Board receives the application. Otherwise, the
applicant must submit a new application with the required fee. This
one year requirement does not include references, which are valid for
only six months. |
(10) |
Temporary Practice Permits. The Board may issue a temporary permit to
any applicant who has otherwise met the requirements for Board
licensure and who has either applied to take the next available
examination or has already taken the examination and is awaiting the
results thereof, with the following conditions:
a. |
The applicant must request this
permit in writing. |
b. |
Unless otherwise approved by the Board for extenuating circumstances,
the permit shall be valid for a maximum period of ninety (90) days,
but shall expire immediately upon notification of the applicant's
failure to achieve a satisfactory score on the approved certification
examination required in 360-5-.02(1)(c). |
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(1) |
In order to obtain approval to
supervise a physician assistant, the physician who will be
responsible for the performance of the Physician Assistant shall
submit an application to the Board. The application shall be made
upon forms supplied by the Board and must be approved by the Board
before the supervising physician(s) may delegate health care tasks to
the physician assistant.
(a) |
The
board shall have the authority to approve or deny any primary or
alternate supervising physicians. |
|
(2) |
The supervising physician(s)
must certify that he/she has received, read, and is familiar with the
Medical Practice Act, Physician Assistant Act and Board rules and
regulations by signing the statement on the application. |
(3) |
The application must include:
(a) |
The name of the primary
supervising physician. |
(b) |
Alternate supervising
physicians, as designated by the primary supervising physician, if
applicable.
1. |
Unlimited alternate
supervising physicians may be added to the approved list by
submission of the appropriate form signed by the primary supervising
physician, and each alternate to the Board. |
2 |
An alternate supervising
physician must have the following relationships with the primary
supervising physician:
(i) |
a
similar scope of practice and: |
(ii) |
an affiliation with the
primary supervisory physician's medical practice; or |
(iii) |
An established formal call
agreement. |
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(c) |
The name and location of the
medical school from which the primary supervising physician was
graduated and the date the degree was received. |
(d) |
The type of practice in which
the physician assistant is to provide services; |
(e) |
A Georgia business address for
the practice; |
(f) |
A
current Georgia medical license number. |
(g) |
Evidence that the physician
assistant is licensed in Georgia; |
(h) |
A fee as required by the Board.
No fee will be required if the physician assistant will be providing
medical services as an employee of the state or of a county
government; and |
(i) |
A job
description meeting the requirements of law and rules. |
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(4) |
Applications
submitted to the Board must be completed in every detail. In order
for the Board to complete disposition of the application, the Board,
at its discretion, may request additional information which shall be
submitted in writing by the applicant. |
(5) |
At the option of the Board, the
physician assistant and the applying supervising physician(s) may be
required to appear before the Board for a personal interview. If the
physician assistant has been out of practice for more than two years,
the Board, at its discretion, may require refresher training,
continuing education, periodic reports from primary supervising
physicians, demonstration of more intense physician supervision, or
any other means deemed necessary by the Board to protect the health
and safety of the citizens of Georgia. |
(6) |
The primary supervising
physician shall at all times maintain on file, readily available for
inspection, documentation from the Board evidencing current approval
for supervision of the physician assistant, current license status of
both parties, and a copy of the applicable approved job
description. |
(7) |
After
receipt of required documents, the board shall provide notification
of approval or disapproval of the physician's application for
utilization of a Physician Assistant. |
(8) |
All applications for Board
approval should be completed and on file with the Board at least
fifteen (15) days prior to the meeting, in order to be considered by
the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee and the Board at the next
meeting. |
(9) |
Upon
termination of a physician/physician assistant relationship, the
physician assistant and supervising physician are required to give
notice and date of termination to the board by certified mail or
appropriate verifiable method, and in order to continue practicing,
the physician assistant must submit an application to the Board for a
new supervising physician.
a. |
An
alternate supervising physician may not assume the primary
supervising physician's role but must submit the appropriate form to
the Board and receive its approval before delegating medical tasks to
the physician assistant. Failure to notify the Board immediately may
result in disciplinary action against the physician assistant and/or
the physician(s). Failure to renew the license because of expiration
will not be considered an exception to the requirements of this
paragraph. |
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(1) |
The job description is a
document signed and dated by both the primary supervising physician
and the physician assistant whom the physician is seeking to utilize
or already has approval to utilize.
(a) |
The job description shall
include a description of the medical acts to be performed by the
physician assistant. For physician assistants who do not practice as
an anesthesiology assistant, attachment of the Job Description
provided by the Board shall be deemed adequate compliance with this
requirement. However, if the physician assistant is performing an act
not covered in the Job Description, then a submission of these
additional acts is necessary and express approval by the Board is
required. The Job Description does not include the delivery of
general, spinal or epidural anesthesia and a physician assistant
performing these acts would require additional training and express
Board approval. |
(b) |
A job
description shall not be required to contain every activity the
physician deems the physician assistant qualified to perform, but
shall confine the activities of the physician assistant to those in
the scope of practice of the primary supervising physician. |
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(2) |
Physician assistants
who have completed a board approved Anesthesiologist Assistant
program and will be practicing under the supervision of an
anesthesiologist shall complete the job description for the Physician
Anesthesiologist Assistant. All other physician assistants shall
complete the General Job Description. |
(3) |
The job description shall
contain a provision for immediate consultation between the physician
assistant and primary or alternate supervising physician. "Immediate
consultation" means that the supervising physician shall be available
for direct communication or by telephone or other means of
telecommunication. |
(4) |
In
the case of an anesthesiologist assistant delivering general and/or
regional anesthesia, the primary or alternate supervising physician
must be immediately available in person. |
(5) |
A physician assistant may only
perform those tasks which are included in his/her job description
currently on file with and approved by the Board; provided, however,
that tasks outside the job description may be performed by the
physician assistant under the direct supervision and in the presence
of the physician(s) utilizing him. |
(6) |
A primary supervising physician
may at any time submit a new or amended physician assistant job
description to the Board. |
(1) |
No
person shall practice as a physician assistant without a license or
temporary permit from the Board, Board approval of a supervising
physician, and Board approval of his/her job description. |
(2) |
A physician employed by the
Department of Community Health, an institution thereof or by a local
health department, whose duties are administrative and do not
normally include providing health care to patients, shall not be
authorized to supervise a physician assistant who is employed by
these entities. |
(3) |
A
physician may not be an employee of the physician assistant who
he/she is required to supervise unless the arrangement was approved
by the Board prior to July 1, 2009. |
(4) |
A physician may serve as
primary supervising physician to only four physician assistants. A
physician may be an alternate supervising physician for any number of
physician assistants. |
(5) |
A physician may not supervise more than two physician assistants at
any one time except:
(a) |
When
practicing as a member of a group practice in which other physicians
of such group are primary supervising physicians. In these
circumstances, a physician may supervise up to four physician
assistants at any one time, or |
(b) |
When acting as an alternate
supervising physician, a physician may supervise as many as four
physician assistants, who are working within the scope of practice of
the alternate supervisor.
1. |
In an
institutional setting, such as a hospital or clinic. |
2. |
While on call for a primary
supervising physician or a group practice |
3. |
When otherwise approved by the
board to act as an alternate supervising physician. |
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(6) |
A
physician assistant may not perform an abortion or administer,
prescribe or issue a drug order that is intended to cause an abortion
to occur pharmacologically. |
(7) |
A physician assistant may not
be utilized to perform the duties of a pharmacist licensed under
Title 26, Chapter 4 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
relating to pharmacists, as now or hereafter amended. |
(8) |
A physician assistant may not
issue a written prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance.
Provided, however, this does not preclude:
(a) |
a physician assistant from
preparing such a prescription for administration of a Schedule II
controlled substance for signature by the primary or alternate
supervising physician on the date that the prescription is issued to
the patient. Such prescriptions may not be pre-signed. |
(b) |
A physician assistant from
issuing a written or verbal order for a Schedule II controlled
substance within a health care setting. The supervising or an
alternate supervising physician must co-sign such orders in
compliance with any provisions required by the location where the
physician assistant is practicing. |
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(9) |
A physician assistant does not
have the authority to sign death certificates or assign a percentage
of a disability rating. |
(1) |
All
physician assistant licenses must be renewed biennially on the last
day of the month in which the licensee's birthday falls. In order to
renew, the licensee must:
(a) |
Complete the renewal application; |
(b) |
Complete the Board approved
continuing education requirements; |
(c) |
If intending to continue active
practice have a Board approved primary supervising physician and
approved job description, or if seeking an inactive license, meet the
applicable requirements of
360-5-.08; and |
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(2) |
Approximately 60
days prior to the expiration date, the Board may as a courtesy, email
a notice for license renewal to the last email address on file in the
Board's records to every person holding a current license. Failure to
receive such notification shall not relieve the licensee of the
obligation to renew and pay the required fee prior to the expiration
date of the license. Deposit of the renewal fee by the Board does not
indicate acceptance of the renewal application or that any licensing
requirements have been fulfilled. |
(3) |
Failure to renew a license by
the designated expiration date shall result in a penalty fee for late
renewal as determined by the Board. |
(4) |
Failure to obtain the
continuing education required for renewal may result in the denial of
the application for renewal, or renewal of the license under a
consent order with a fine, public or private reprimand and the
requirement of additional continuing education. |
(5) |
Licenses expired for three
months or less may be late renewed by meeting all the requirements
for renewal and paying a late renewal fee. |
(6) |
Licenses that have been expired
for longer than 3 months shall be deemed administratively revoked for
failure to renew. Such licensees must apply for reinstatement of the
license. |
(7) |
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (6) of this rule, any
service member as defined in O.C.G.A. § 15-12-1
whose license to practice medicine expired while on active duty
outside the state shall be permitted to practice in accordance with
the expired license and shall not be charged with a violation
relating to such practice on an expired license for a period of six
(6) months from the date of his or her discharge from active duty or
reassignment to a location within the state. Such service member
shall be entitled to renew such expired license without penalty
within six (6) months after the date of his or her discharge from
active duty or reassignment to a location within this state. The
service member must present to the Board a copy of the official
military orders or a written verification signed by the service
member's commanding officer to waive any charges. |
(8) |
Reinstatement of License
(a) |
In order to reinstate a license
to practice as a physician assistant, the Board must receive:
1. |
A completed
application; |
2. |
A
reinstatement fee as required by the Board. |
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(b) |
Reinstatement of a license to
practice as a physician assistant is within the discretion of the
Board. The physician assistant must be able to demonstrate to the
Board's satisfaction that:
1. |
He or
she has maintained current knowledge, skill and proficiency in the
health care area related to the job description as required by
O.C.G.A. § 43-34-103;
and |
2. |
He or she is
mentally and physically able to practice with reasonable skill and
safety. |
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(9) |
A physician assistant whose
license has expired may neither practice nor represent himself as a
physician assistant until such time that the Board has approved his
application for renewal or reinstatement. |
(10) |
All applicants must provide an
affidavit and a secure and verifiable document in accordance with
O.C.G.A.
50-36-1(f).
If the applicant has previously provided a secure and verifiable
document and affidavit of United States citizenship, no additional
documentation of citizenship is required for renewal. If the
applicant for renewal is not a United States citizen, he/she must
submit documentation that will determine his/her qualified alien
status. The Board participates in the DHS-USCIS SAVE (Systematic
Alien Verification for Entitlements or "SAVE") program for purpose of
verifying citizenship and immigration status information of non-U.S.
citizens. If the applicant for renewal is a qualified alien or
non-immigrant under the Federal Immigration and Nationality Act,
he/she must provide the alien number issued by the Department of
Homeland Security or other federal agency. |
(1) |
Physician assistants licensed
to practice pursuant to O.C.G.A.
43-34-103
shall complete Board approved continuing medical education of not
less than forty (40) hours biennially. Effective with the 2009-2010
biennium, at least ten (10) hours shall be directly related to the
specialty of the Board approved primary supervising physician.
Physician assistants who are authorized to issue prescription drug
orders shall be required as a part of the number of hours of
continuing education required herein, to complete a minimum of three
(3) hours in practice specific pharmaceuticals in which the physician
assistant has prescription order privileges.
(a) |
Physician assistants who are
initially licensed by the Board and who have not renewed their
license for the first time shall not be required to complete the 40
hours of continuing education during their first renewal, but
physician assistants who have to issue prescriptive drug orders shall
be required to complete the 3 hours of continuing education in
practice specific pharmaceuticals in which the physician assistant
has prescription order privileges. |
(b) |
Physician assistants whose
licenses are not active, such as those who are inactive or revoked
are not required to complete the continuing education until such time
as they are seeking reactivation or reinstatement. |
(c) |
Except for the three hours of
continuing education relating to pharmaceuticals, the Board is
authorized to waive the continuing education required for renewal in
cases of hardship, disability, illness, service in the United States
Congress or Georgia General Assembly, military service or other
circumstances as the Board deems appropriate if supported by adequate
documentation acceptable to the Board.
1. |
Physician assistants seeking
such an exemption must submit a written request and documentation to
support their eligibility for such an exemption. |
2. |
Said request for an exemption
shall be submitted to the Board not less than 60 days prior to the
expiration of the license to receive a determination from the Board
as to whether an exemption would be granted. |
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(2) |
The Board accepts
the A.M.A. (American Medical Association) Category 1, the A.O.A.
(American Osteopathic Association) Category 1, A.A.A.A. (American
Academy of Anesthesiologist's Assistants) Category 1, AAFP (American
Academy of Family Physicians) Category I, and the A.A.P.A. (American
Academy of Physician Assistants) Category 1 credit as meeting its
requirement for Board approval. It is the responsibility of the
physician assistant to verify approval with the source of the
program, not with the Board, and the physician assistant shall verify
approval before taking the course. |
(3) |
Each licensed physician
assistant must maintain records of attendance and supporting
documents for continuing education for a period of 5 years from the
date of attendance. At a minimum, the following must be kept:
(c) |
Evidence of A.M.A. Category 1
credit; A.O.A. Category 1 credit; A.A.P.A, AAFP, Category 1 credit;
or A.A.A.A. Category 1 credit. |
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(4) |
The Board will audit a fixed
percentage of randomly selected renewal applications to monitor
compliance with the continuing education requirements. Any licensee
so audited shall be required to furnish documentation of compliance
as provided in paragraph (4) of this rule. Any licensee so audited
who has been found to be out of compliance with the Board's
continuing requirements may be subject to disciplinary
action. |
(5) |
If the
licensee has not complied with the continuing education requirement
by the expiration of the license, his/her license shall not be
renewed and the licensee shall not practice as a physician assistant.
A licensee may late renew during the three (3) months following the
expiration date of his or her license by presenting satisfactory
evidence to the Board of completion of the requisite number of hours
of Board approved continuing education and the late renewal fee.
Licenses that are not renewed within three (3) months following the
expiration date of the license shall be revoked for failure to renew.
In order to obtain a valid license after revocation for failure to
renew, an applicant must apply for reinstatement. |
(6) |
Continuing education hours that
are used to satisfy a deficiency for the previous biennial renewal
may not be used for purposes of renewal for the next
biennium. |
(1) |
A person who wishes to maintain
his or her physician assistant license, but who does not intend to
practice as a physician assistant may apply to the Board for inactive
status by submitting an application and the fee as determined by the
Board. An individual with an inactive license may not practice as a
physician assistant in this State. |
(2) |
In order to reactivate a
license to practice as a physician assistant, the Board must receive
a completed application from the licensee with evidence of 40 hours
of continuing education obtained within the previous two years, and a
reactivation fee. The physician assistant must be able to demonstrate
to the satisfaction of the Board that he or she has maintained
current knowledge, skill and proficiency in the medical arts as
required by O.C.G.A. § 43-34-103
and that he or she is mentally and physically able to practice with
reasonable skill and safety.
(a) |
Provided however prior to performing medical tasks, the licensee must
demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board that the completed
continuing education required in the above paragraph is pertinent to
the job description under which he/she will practice, as required in
Continuing Education Requirements 360-05-.07. |
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(3) |
Once the license has been
reactivated, the physician assistant may not practice until he/she
has on file a completed job description with a primary supervising
physician as provided in Rules
360-5-.03 and
360-5-.04. In addition, the
physician assistant must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the Board
that he/she has sufficient recent continuing education or training
pertinent to the job description under which he/she will
practice. |
(1) |
Definitions
(a) |
"Good standing" shall mean that
the person has no disciplinary action taken against him or her by any
state within the previous seven (7) years and has not let his/her
license in any state expire or become inactive during an
investigation by a state medical board into allegations relating to
his/her practice as a physician assistant or during a pending
disciplinary action. |
(b) |
"Georgia Board - Approved Supervisory Arrangement" means when a
supervising physician and a physician assistant are working under a
basic job description previously submitted to and approved by the
Board. |
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(2) |
Temporary Practice Agreement. A physician and a physician's assistant
may enter into a temporary practice agreement where the physician
supervises the services provided by the physician assistant to
patients at a specific facility or program operated by an
organization exempt from federal taxes pursuant to Section 501(c)(3)
of the Federal Internal Revenue Code, provided that:
(a) |
Such services are provided in
the State of Georgia; |
(b) |
Such services are provided primarily to financially disadvantaged
patients; |
(c) |
Such
services are free or at a charge to the patient based solely on the
patient's ability to pay and provided, further, that such charges do
not exceed the actual cost to the facility or program; and |
(d) |
Both supervising physician and
the physician assistant voluntarily and gratuitously donate their
services; |
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(3) |
Requirements for the Temporary Practice Agreement.
(a) |
The temporary practice
agreement must be for a specified period of time; |
(b) |
The physician assistant
services must be within the usual scope of practice of the
supervising physician; |
(c) |
The physician assistant and the
supervising physician must be in good standing with the
Board; |
(d) |
The temporary
practice agreement must be signed by both the supervising physician
and the physician assistant; |
(e) |
Prior to providing any patient
services a copy of the signed temporary practice agreement must be on
file at the facility or program and a copy of the agreement must have
been sent to the Board; and |
(f) |
The facility or program must
notify the Board of its intent to provide patient services and
utilize licensed physicians and physician assistants under the
conditions set out in this subsection. |
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(4) |
Limitations. This rule does not
apply to physicians and physician assistants who are in a Georgia
board-approved supervisory arrangement nor preclude physician
assistants from practicing under the Georgia Volunteers in Health
Care Specialties Act as delineated in OCGA Section
43-1-28. |
In a state of an emergency or a public health
emergency, a physician assistant may provide medical care with such
supervision as is available at the immediate or local scene where a
need for medical care exists or at a relief site established as part
of a state or local safety plan pursuant to Chapter 3 of Title 38.
Provided:
(a) |
The physician
assistant must hold a license, certification or authorization in good
standing from any state or federal jurisdiction. |
(b) |
Services shall be provided in
response to an appropriate state or local official who is
implementing a state or local emergency management plan or
program. |
(c) |
The to
practice under such guidelines shall not last longer than 48 hours,
unless the Board establishes further supervision guidelines for
physician assistants providing care under these
circumstances. |
(1) |
A
licensed physician assistant is authorized to practice in those
public or private places or facilities where the primary or alternate
supervising physician regularly sees patients. |
(2) |
The physician assistant is not
required to be in the presence of the physician to provide medical
services, including the evaluation and treatment of new or
established patients. |
(3) |
A physician assistant may make house calls, nursing home visits,
perform hospital duties, serve as an ambulance attendant or perform
other functions he is qualified to perform. |
(4) |
The physician assistant may
issue a prescription drug order, and/or order and initiate medical
treatment or diagnostic studies in any health care setting, as
authorized by his or her supervising physician. |
(5) |
Any physician, clinic or
hospital utilizing physician assistants must post a notice to that
effect in a prominent place. |
(6) |
While engaged in medical
practice, a physician assistant must clearly identify himself as
such. He/she must also wear a clearly legible identification name tag
with the words "Physician Assistant" on it. A Physician Assistant is
to be addressed as Mr., Mrs., Ms., or Miss. |
(7) |
A physician who has been
approved for supervision of a physician assistant is responsible for
medical acts performed by that physician assistant. |
(8) |
A physician assistant may
pronounce death and certify such pronouncement in the same manner as
a physician if he is delegated this by his supervising
physician. |
(1) |
If
authorized by his/her job description, a physician assistant may
issue a prescription drug order for any medical device as defined by
Code Section
26-4-5, any
dangerous drug as defined in Code Section
16-13-71
or any Schedule III, IV, or V controlled substance as defined in Code
Section
16-13-21. |
(2) |
Any physician assistant who has
been authorized to issue a prescription drug order for controlled
substances must register with the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration ("DEA"). |
(3) |
A prescription drug or device
order form issued by an authorized physician assistant shall, at a
minimum, contain the name, address and telephone number of the
primary or alternate supervising physician, the patient's name and
address, the drug or device ordered, the directions to the patient
for taking the medication, the dosage, the number of refills allowed,
the name and DEA number (if applicable) of the physician assistant,
and the signature of the physician assistant. |
(4) |
The prescription drug order may
be transmitted orally, by telephone, on paper, electronically or via
facsimile. Any electronic prescription drug order must comply with
the provision of O.C.G.A. Title 16, Chapter 13 and Title 26, Chapter
4. A record of the prescription must be maintained in the patient's
medical record. |
(5) |
A
physician assistant may authorize refills of any drug or device for
up to 12 months from the date of the original prescription unless
otherwise provided by law. Scheduled III, IV or V controlled
substances may not be refilled more than six months from date of
original prescription. |
(6) |
The physician assistant or
office staff shall notify the patient that he has the right to see
the physician prior to receiving a prescription drug or device order.
Prominent signage in the office may serve this purpose. |
(7) |
The primary or alternate
supervising physician shall evaluate or examine patients receiving
controlled substances at least every three months. |
(8) |
Except in facilities operated
by the Division of Public Health of the Department of Community
Health, the primary or alternate supervising physician shall review
the physician assistant's prescription drug or device orders and
corresponding medical record entries within 30 days. This review may
be achieved with a sampling of no less than 50 percent of the
prescription drug or device orders and/or corresponding medical
record entries. |
(9) |
If
authorized by the job description, a physician assistant may request,
receive, sign for and distribute professional samples. Professional
samples means complimentary doses of a drug, medication vouchers or
medical devices provided by the manufacturer for use in patient care.
If the professional samples are controlled substances, the physician
assistant must also be registered with the federal Drug Enforcement
Administration.
(a) |
The office where
the physician assistant practices must maintain a general list of all
professional samples that the supervising physician has approved the
physician assistant to request, receive, sign for and distribute.
Such samples must be consistent with the specialty of the supervising
physician. |
(b) |
A complete
list of the specific drugs or devices provided to a patient by a
physician assistant must be noted in the patient's medical
record. |
|
(1) |
When the Board finds that any
person is unqualified to be granted a license or to have a license
renewed, the Board may refuse to grant the license. |
(2) |
The Board may impose on a
physician assistant any disciplinary action authorized by O.C.G.A.
Sections
43-34-8,
43-34-103,
43-34-107,
and O.C.G.A. Section
16-13-111,
or otherwise authorized by law for any of the reasons set forth by
law. In addition, the Board may terminate the approval of a
physician's utilization of a physician assistant provided in O.C.G.A.
Section
3-34-107. |
(3) |
In addition, the following may
be considered by the Board as unprofessional conduct of the physician
assistant:
(a) |
Performing duties on
a routine basis by the physician assistant, without appropriate
supervision by a physician approved by the Board; |
(b) |
Routinely performing duties
that are not within the scope of practice of the supervising
physician. |
(c) |
Issuing
pre-signed prescriptions or prescriptions signed in blank or using
pre-signed prescriptions; |
(d) |
Signing a physician's signature
on a prescription form by a physician assistant; |
(e) |
Failing to notify the Board
within 30 days of becoming unable to perform duties or provide
patient services with reasonable skill and safety by reason of
illness or the use of alcohol, drugs, narcotics, chemicals or any
other type of material; |
(f) |
Holding himself or herself out
or permitting another to represent him or her as a licensed
physician; |
(g) |
Being
convicted in any court, state or federal, of any felony or other
criminal offense involving moral turpitude; |
(h) |
Failing to notify the Board of
the termination of a physician/physician assistant
relationship; |
(i) |
Failing
to maintain appropriate patient records; or |
(j) |
Failing to document
professional samples that are distributed to a patient in the
patient's medical record. |
|