Senate Passes Roegner's Bill Expanding Opportunities for Physician Assistants

COLUMBUS—The Ohio Senate today unanimously passed Senate Bill 28, sponsored by State Senator Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson), which would join Ohio into the "Physician Assistant Licensure Compact," an agreement between member states to recognize a license issued by another compact member state. As a member, Ohio may extend the privilege to practice to a physician assistant who is licensed in another state participating in the Compact, subject to Ohio’s laws and rules governing physician assistants.

"Although the Physician Assistant Compact is still in a formative stage, passage of Senate Bill 28 puts Ohio at the forefront of establishing this worthwhile endeavor," said Roegner. "In addition to expanding patient access to medical professionals, the Compact will alleviate burdens for military families by allowing active-duty military personnel and their spouses to obtain a compact privilege based on having an unrestricted license in good standing from a participating state."

Physician assistants will be able to apply for a compact privilege through a streamlined process, rather than having to obtain an individual license in every state in which they want to practice. The compact privilege authorizes physician assistants to provide medical services, including telehealth, and other licensed activity to a patient located in a particular compact state under that state’s laws and regulations.

The Physician Assistant Licensure Compact will take effect once seven states have enacted authorizing legislation. Ohio would be among the first states to adopt, leading the way for increased access to care for patients and mobility for physician assistants. Rhode Island and Texas have also introduced the Compact, and Utah has already enacted its version.