SENATE, No. 2234

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

INTRODUCED NOVEMBER 17, 1997

 

 

By Senator SINAGRA

 

 

An Act concerning physician assistants and amending P.L.1991, c.378.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. Section 7 of P.L.1991, c.378 (C.45:9-27.16) is amended to read as follows:

     7. a. A physician assistant may perform the following procedures:

    (1) Approaching a patient to elicit a detailed and accurate history, perform an appropriate physical examination, identify problems, record information and interpret and present information to the supervising physician;

    (2) Suturing and caring for wounds including removing sutures and clips and changing dressings, except for facial wounds, traumatic wounds requiring suturing in layers and infected wounds;

   (3) Providing patient counseling services and patient education consistent with directions of the supervising physician;

    (4) Assisting a physician in an inpatient setting by conducting patient rounds, recording patient progress notes, determining and implementing therapeutic plans jointly with the supervising physician and compiling and recording pertinent narrative case summaries;

   (5) Assisting a physician in the delivery of services to patients requiring continuing care in a private home, nursing home, extended care facility or other setting, including the review and monitoring of treatment and therapy plans;

   (6) Facilitating the referral of patients to, and promoting their awareness of, health care facilities and other appropriate agencies and resources in the community; and

    (7) Such other procedures suitable for discretionary and routine performance by physician assistants as designated by the board pursuant to subsection a. of section 15 of this act.

    b. A physician assistant may perform the following procedures only when directed, ordered or prescribed by the supervising physician or specified in accordance with protocols promulgated pursuant to subsection c. of section 15 of this act:

   (1) Performing non-invasive laboratory procedures and related studies or assisting duly licensed personnel in the performance of invasive laboratory procedures and related studies;

   (2) Giving injections, administering medications and requesting diagnostic studies;

    (3) Suturing and caring for facial wounds, traumatic wounds requiring suturing in layers and infected wounds;

    (4) Writing prescriptions or ordering medications in an inpatient or outpatient setting in accordance with section 10 of this act; and

    (5) Such other procedures as may be specified in accordance with protocols promulgated in accordance with subsection b. of section 15 of this act.

    c. A physician assistant may assist a supervising surgeon in the operating room when a qualified assistant physician is not required by the board and a second assistant is deemed necessary by the supervising surgeon.

(cf: P.L.1992,c.102,s.5)

 

    2. Section 10 of P.L.1991, c.378 (C.45:9-27.19) is amended to read as follows:

   10. A physician assistant treating a patient in an inpatient or outpatient setting may order or prescribe medications, subject to the following conditions:

    a. no Schedule II controlled dangerous substances may be ordered or prescribed, but a supervising physician may authorized a physician assistant to order or prescribe Schedule III, IV or V controlled dangerous substances if the physician assistant has registered with and obtained authorization from the appropriate State and federal agencies;

    b. the order or prescription is administered in accordance with protocols or specific physician direction pursuant to subsection b. of section 7 of this act;

    c. the prescription states whether it is written pursuant to protocol or specific physician direction; and

    d. the physician assistant signs his own name, prints his name and license number and prints the supervising physician's name, and in the case of an order or prescription for a controlled dangerous substance, prints the physician assistant's Drug Enforcement Administration registration number.

(cf:P.L.1991,c.378,s.10)

 

    3. This act shall take effect immediately.


STATEMENT

 

    This bill permits physician assistants to order or prescribe drugs in both outpatient and inpatient settings and permits a supervising physician to authorize a physician assistant to order or prescribe Schedule III, IV and V controlled dangerous substances if the physician assistant has registered with and obtained authorization from the appropriate State and federal agencies.

    Currently, physician assistants are only permitted to order or prescribe drugs in inpatient settings and are prohibited from prescribing any controlled dangerous substances.

 

                              

Permits physician assistants to prescribe in outpatient settings and to prescribe Schedule III, IV and V controlled dangerous substances.