ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Fifty-sixth Legislature Second Regular Session
	House: HHS DP 10-0-0-0| 3^rd Read DP 55-0-2-0 Senate: HHS DP 5-0-2-0 | 3^rd Read DP 29-0-1-0

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HB 2113: medical assistants; scope of practice

Sponsor: Representative Willoughby, LD 13

Transmitted to the Governor

Overview

Expands the acts that a medical assistant may perform without the direct supervision of a medical doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner.

History

A medical assistant is an unlicensed person who performs specified tasks as outlined in statute, has completed an education program approved by the Arizona Medical Board (Board), assists in a medical practice under the supervision of a medical doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner and performs delegated procedures that commensurate with the medical assistant's education and training but does not diagnose, interpret, design or modify established treatment programs or perform any functions that would violate any statute applicable to the practice of medicine.

Direct supervision means a licensed physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner is within the same room or office suite as the medical assistant in order to be available for consultation regarding the tasks the medical assistant performs (A.R.S. § 32-1401).

Medical assistants may perform the following tasks without direct supervision:

1) billing and coding;

2) verify insurance;

3) make patient appointments;

4) perform scheduling;

5) record a medical doctor's findings in patient charts and transcribe materials in patient charts and records;

6) perform visual acuity screening as part of a routine physical; and

7) take and record patient vital signs and medical history on medical records.

The Board, by rule, must prescribe medical assistant training requirements. The training requirements for a medical assistant may be satisfied through a training program that meets all of the following: 1) is designed and offered by a physician; 2) meets or exceeds any of the approved training program requirements specified in rule; 3) verifies the entry-level competencies of a medical assistant as prescribed by rule; and 4) provides written verification to the individual of successful completion of the training program (A.R.S. § 32-1456). 

A sunrise application was submitted on November 1, 2023, requesting an expansion of the scope of practice for medical assistants to allow them to perform certain administrative duties without direct supervision.

Provisions

1. Allows medical assistants to perform the following tasks without the direct supervision of a medical doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner:

a) communicate documented medical advice, orders and interpreted test results from a medical doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner; and

b) obtain, process and communicate medication or procedure prior authorization as documented and ordered by a medical doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. (Sec. 1)

2. Makes technical changes. (Sec. 1)

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6.                   HB 2113

7. Initials AG/MT    Page 0 Transmitted

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