Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants
The Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants is the professional voice and advocate for PAs and PA Students in Virginia.
On April 7th, Governor Youngkin signed HB 145 in to law. The legislation permits a PA appointed as a medical examiner to practice without a practice agreement; allows a PA working in the field of orthopedics to use fluoroscopy, provided other requirements are met; and adds PA to the list of hospice personnel who may be part of a medically directed interdisciplinary team
The new language will take effect July 1, 2022. Please find the text of the new law here.
Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order 16 permits physician assistants licensed in Virginia with two or more years of clinical experience to practice in their area of knowledge and expertise and prescribe without a written or electronic practice agreement. It will expire on March 22nd unless amended or rescinded.
Governor Youngkin’s Executive Order 11 permits physician assistants licensed in Virginia with two or more years of clinical experience to practice in their area of knowledge and expertise and prescribe without a written or electronic practice agreement. It will expire on February 21st unless amended or rescinded.
As a result of Monday’s announcement from AAPA’s House of Delegates (HOD) about the PA title change, AAPA has updated the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the Title Change Investigation web page. This page will be regularly updated with new information as it becomes available.
On March 18th, Governor Northam signed HB 2039 in to law. Among other things, the new and amended provisions clarify aspects of a practice agreement, and further define the relationship between a PA and the other members of the patient care team. A key provision is the removal of a patient care team physician’s vicarious liability for the action/inaction of the PA.
The new language will take effect July 1, 2021. Please find the text of the new law here.
Effective July 1, 2020, PAs will be included on the list of mental health service providers who are permitted to make a determination that a patient is incapable of making informed decisions or lacks capacity. Please find the text of the new law here.
*Telemedicine – Virginia PAs are permitted to practice telemedicine, but there are restrictions on teleprescribing. Please refer to 54.1-3303 of Virginia Code.
Websites:
Virginia Governor Ralph Northam – Executive Actions
Virginia.gov Coronavirus Website
Virginia Department of Health (VDH)
Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)
World Health Organization (WHO)
Articles:
Internet Book of Critical Care – COVID-19
EB Medicine – COVID-19 Overview
Trackers:
Please find the following articles regarding the proposed changes (in the 2020 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule) to evaluation and management documentation and reimbursement for outpatient new and established visits:
In addition, the American Academy of Physician Assistants prepared a document with reimbursement related information.
The PA-Physician relationship has undergone change, where patient-centered care is shared and the care plan jointly determined. The PA profession has grown and proven itself; when in the remote past it may have been critically watched and directed, the practice standard now is jointly determined care with collaboration. The term supervision is outdated and has been misunderstood in the administrative world, risking disenfranchisement. The term collaboration will ensure ongoing communication between the PA and Physician team, ensuring the delivery of safe, cost-effective, and quality health care that the patients we serve will benefit from.
For additional information click here.
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Registration for the 2025 VAPA Summer Conference is now open!