328-D:3-b Physician Assistant Scope of Practice. –
I. Except as provided in RSA 328-D:15, III and RSA 328-D:16, II, a physician assistant shall engage in practice as a physician assistant in this state only if the physician assistant has entered into a written collaboration agreement with a sole practice physician or a physician representing a group or health system so long as the sole practitioner or at least one physician in the group or health system practices in a similar area of medicine as the physician assistant, and is a licensed New Hampshire physician.
II. A collaboration agreement shall include all of the following:
(a) Processes for collaboration and consultation with the appropriate physician and other health care professional as indicated based on the patient's condition; the physician assistant's education, training, and experience, and the applicable standards of care.
(b) An acknowledgment that the physician assistant's scope of practice shall be limited to medical care that is within the physician assistant's education, training, and experience as outlined in paragraphs VII-XVIII.
(c) A statement that although collaboration occurs between the physician assistant and physicians and other health care professionals, a physician shall be accessible for consultation in person, by telephone, or electronic means at all times when a physician assistant is practicing.
(d) The signatures of the physician assistant and the participating physician. No other signatures shall be required.
III. The collaboration agreement shall be updated as necessary.
IV. In the event of the unanticipated unavailability of a participating physician practicing as a sole practitioner due to serious illness or death, a physician assistant may continue to practice for not more than a 30-day period without entering into a new collaboration agreement with another participating physician.
V. The collaboration agreement shall be kept on file at the practice and made available to the board upon request. The board shall not request or require any modifications to the collaboration agreement.
VI. A participating physician shall not be required to submit a written acceptance of collaboration to the board.
VII. Physician assistants may provide any legal medical service for which they have been prepared by their education, training, and experience and are competent to perform. Medical and surgical services provided by physician assistants include, but are not limited to:
(a) Obtaining and performing comprehensive health histories and physical examinations;
(b) Evaluating, diagnosing, managing, and providing medical treatment;
(c) Ordering, performing, and interpreting diagnostic studies and therapeutic procedures;
(d) Educating patients on health promotion and disease prevention;
(e) Providing consultation upon request;
(f) Writing medical orders;
VIII. Physician assistants may provide services in healthcare facilities or programs including but not limited to hospitals, nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, and hospices.
IX. Physician assistants may obtain informed consent.
X. Physician assistants may supervise, delegate, and assign therapeutic and diagnostic measures to licensed or unlicensed personnel.
XI. Consistent with the scope of practice, physician assistants may certify the health or disability of a patient as required by any local, state, or federal program.
XII. Physician assistants may authenticate any document with their signature, certification, stamp, verification, affidavit, or endorsement if it may be so authenticated by the signature, certification, stamp, verification, affidavit, or endorsement of a physician.
XIII. A physician assistant may prescribe, dispense, order, administer, and procure drugs and medical devices. Physician assistants may plan and initiate a therapeutic regimen that includes ordering and prescribing non pharmacological interventions, including but not limited to durable medical equipment, nutrition, blood and blood products, and diagnostic support services including but not limited to home healthcare, hospice, and physical and occupational therapy.
XIV. The prescribing and dispensing of drugs shall:
(a) Comply with the requirements of RSA 318, and federal and state regulations;
(b) Occur when pharmacy services are not reasonably available, or when it is in the best interests of the patient, or when it is an emergency; and
(c) Include any medications that may be dispensed by a physician.
XV. Physician assistants may request, receive, and sign for professional samples, and may distribute professional samples to patients.
XVI. Physician assistants who prescribe and/or dispense controlled substances shall register with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration and any applicable state controlled substance regulatory authority.
XVII. Physician assistants shall collaborate with, consult with, and/or refer to the appropriate member(s) of the healthcare team as indicated by the patient's condition, the education, experience, and competencies of the physician assistant, and the standard of care. The degree of collaboration should be outlined in the collaboration agreement. Physician assistants are solely responsible for the care they provide.
XVIII. The scope of practice of a physician assistant shall be determined at the practice level based on the education, training, and experience of the physician assistant. Practice settings may include, but are not limited to, a physician employer setting, group practice setting, independent private practice setting, or in a health care facility setting governed by a system of credentialing and/or granting of privileges.