Virginia PA Lobby Day 2008 and Legislative Agenda
The Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants (VAPA) was busy on Monday January 21, 2008 with its annual Lobby Day at the Downtown Marriott in Richmond. 130 practicing physician assistants and students from Virginia programs attended. The breakfast seminar included a presentation by Joe Smith, a legislator from Missouri, who offered a summary on how legislation is introduced and progresses through the legislative process as well as tips on how to lobby the legislators for our bills. Following that, this year’s legislation was explained by Dave Falkenstein and Legislative Chair Zane Reasoner. Compromises with the Medical Society of Virginia necessitated our concentrating on only one bill, the removal of the restriction to establish a final diagnosis and treatment plan. Wording was devised that would allow this as long as it was specified in the protocol with the supervising physician. In addition to this bill, PA representatives also told legislators that VAPA supports maintaining the malpractice cap at $2 million. The cap is due to expire in July, and the Medical Society and physicians in the state are lobbying to protect the cap. The VAPA Legislative team agreed to help the MSV spread that message.

You can follow our bill by logging on to the General Assembly website and entering SB693 in the search box- or Click Here

Prescriptive Privileges

Do you have a question about prescriptive privileges in the state of Virginia? You may find your answer on the prescriptive privileges page. If not, e-mail us with your question at vapa@vapa.org .

This is a summary of the most current chart signing information for licensed PAs in Virginia. The section of regulation is also listed in this summary.

The Virginia Board of Medicine approved the removal of the need to sign charts within 72 hrs via an emergency regulation in 2002. This regulation was made permanent in June 2003. The timing of signature was left up to the supervising physician based on the acuity of care and practice setting. Also, there is no specific requirement as to the number of charts that need signature. The regulation also requires that a protocol be developed giving the details of the chart signing procedure in your practice. The protocols need to be kept in your office should the Board of Medicine request to view it. It was recommended by Dr. William Harp, the Executive Director of the Board of Medicine, that the content of the protocol be "defensible to a panel of your peers." It is also suggested that your group's legal council be involved in development of the protocols. Below is the section of the regulation that involves the above. 18VAC85-50-101. Requirements for a protocol. A. Prior to initiation of practice, a physician assistant and his supervising physician shall submit a written protocol which spells out the roles and functions of the assistant. Any such protocol shall take into account such factors as the physician assistant's level of competence, the number of patients, the types of illness treated by the physician, the nature of the treatment, special procedures, and the nature of the physician availability in ensuring direct physician involvement at an early stage and regularly thereafter. The protocol shall also provide an evaluation process for the physician assistant's performance, including a requirement specifying the time period, proportionate to the acuity of care and practice setting, within which the supervising physician shall review the record of services rendered by the physician assistant.

This link provides information on our latest legislative victory concerning pronouncement of death by PAs in Virginia. The section of the law (effective July 1) is also available.