SENATE HEALTH COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2234

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: DECEMBER 11, 1997

      The Senate Health Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2234.

      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.

      This bill is identical to Assembly Bill No. 3270 (Vandervalk).