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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
health professionals; business entities; interference
Purpose
Allows licensed physicians, nurse practitioners and physician assistants to engage in the practice of medicine in any form of business entity. Prohibits business entity owners from interfering with lawful and competent medical practice of a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant who is employed by that business entity.
Background
A doctor of medicine is a natural person holding a license, registration or permit to practice medicine, including the diagnosis and treatment of injuries, ailments, infirmities or deformities, whether physical, mental, real or imaginary (A.R.S. § 32-1401).
An osteopathic physician is a doctor of osteopathy who holds a license, a permit or locum tenens registration to practice osteopathic medicine, including examining, diagnosing, treating, prescribing for or correcting injuries and ailments, as well as suggesting, recommending, prescribing or administering any form of treatment for the relief or cure of a physical or mental disease, ailment, injury, condition or defect (A.R.S. § 32-2800).
A naturopathic physician is a doctor who holds a license to practice naturopathic medicine, including diagnosing and treating diseases, injuries, ailments, infirmities and other conditions of the human mind and body, including by natural means, drugless methods, nonsurgical methods and devices as well as physical, electrical, hygienic and sanitary measures (A.R.S. § 32-1501).
A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has an expanded scope of practice within a specialty area, including assessing clients, synthesizing and analyzing data, understanding and applying principles of health care, managing the physical and psychosocial health of patients, identifying and implementing appropriate treatment, and other outlined duties (A.R.S. § 32-1601).
A physician assistant is a person licensed to practice medicine under physician supervision (A.R.S. § 32-2501).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions:
1. Allows licensed medical, osteopathic and naturopathic physicians as well nurse practitioners and physician assistants to engage in the practice of medicine in any form of business entity or as an employee of any business entity in Arizona.
2. Prohibits a person or business entity that manages, owns or operates a business that employs a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant from substantially interfering with the lawful and competent medical practice of the licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee
1. Expands the prohibition on business entity interference with lawful medical practice to include any person that manages, owns or operates a business that employs a licensed physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant.
2. Clarifies that, for the prohibition to apply, a specified provider's medical practice must be interfered with substantially
Senate Action
HHS 2/16/22 DPA 6-0-2
Prepared by Senate Research
February 18, 2022
MM/CC/sr/slp