HA2TOHB325 • 2025

House Amendment No.

Education Healthcare

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Berry
Last action: 2026-04-14
Official status: Passed 4/14/26
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official text specifies the requirement for 'more than 6,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours' and specific application details but does not define how those hours are calculated or verified.

Rules for Physician Associate Practice and Licensing

This amendment requires the Regulatory Council to create rules about how physician associates get licensed, apply for independent practice in different settings, report changes to their work area, or reapply after a denial.

What This Bill Does

Requires the council to set licensing rules that allow physician associates to perform medical services within their education, training, and experience.
Creates an application process for physician associates with more than 6,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours who want independent practice authority in a setting with at least one licensed Delaware physician.
Creates an application process for physician associates with more than 6,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours and proof of aligned training who want independent practice authority in a setting without any licensed Delaware physicians.
Requires physician associates granted independent practice authority to report changes to their practice area before making the change if they work in a setting without a licensed Delaware physician.
Sets rules about when a physician associate can try again if they are denied a waiver of the collaborative agreement requirement.

Who It Names or Affects

Physician Associates
The Regulatory Council for Physician Associates

Terms To Know

Independent practice authority: Permission to work without a direct agreement with a doctor.
Collaborative agreement requirement: A rule that usually requires physician associates to have an official working relationship with a licensed doctor, which can be waived under certain conditions.

Limits and Unknowns

The text does not state when these new rules will officially start.
The bill mentions needing more than 6,000 hours of practice but does not explain how those hours are counted or verified in detail beyond requiring proof.

Bill History

2026-04-14 Delaware General Assembly
Introduced and Placed With Bill
2026-04-14 Delaware General Assembly
Passed In House by Voice Vote

Official Summary Text

House Amendment No. 2 to House Bill No. 325 clarifies that the Regulatory Council for Physician Associates must adopt rules and regulations regarding the following:
1) The licensing of physician associates to allow performance of medical services within their education, training, and experience.
2) An application for independent practice authority within a setting with at least 1 licensed Delaware physician.
3) An application for independent practice authority within a setting with no licensed Delaware Physician.
4) An application to report changes to the practice area of the independent practice authority withing a setting with no licensed Delaware physician.
5) The conditions under which a physician associate who is denied a waiver of the collaborative agreement requirement may reapply.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Berry

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 2

HOUSE BILL NO. 325

AMEND House Bill No. 325 on line 118 by inserting “

within the education, training, and experience of physician associates

” after “

services

” and before “

” therein.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 325 by deleting lines 134 to 149 in their entirety and inserting in lieu thereof the following:

“

(4) Independent practice within a setting with at least 1 licensed Delaware physician:

Creating an application form for physician associates with more than 6,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours to request independent practice authority for physician associates who intend to practice in a setting with at least 1 licensed Delaware physician in the group, practice, or health system. The application form must require a physician associate to provide at least the physician associate’s name, license number, physical location of practice, mailing address, phone number, primary area of medical practice, and proof of required post-graduate clinical practice hours.

(5) Independent practice within a setting without at least 1 licensed Delaware physician:

Creating an application form for physician associates with more than 6,000 post-graduate clinical practice hours to request independent practice authority for physician associates who intend to practice in a setting without at least 1 licensed Delaware physician in the group, practice, or health system. The application form must require a physician associate to provide at least the physician associate's name, license number, physical location of the practice, mailing address, phone number, primary area of medical practice, proof of required post-graduate clinical practice hours, and proof that the physician associate has had training which aligns to the physician associate’s practice areas.

(6) Changes to practice area for independent practice within a setting without at least 1 licensed Delaware physician:

Creating an application form and process for physician associates in the group, practice, or health system, that have been granted independent practice authority, to notify the Physician Associates Regulatory Council prior to a change of the physician associate’s practice area and provide proof the physician associate has had training that aligns to the new practice area.

(7) The conditions under which a physician associate who is denied a waiver of the collaborative agreement requirement may reapply.

”.

SYNOPSIS

House Amendment No. 2 to House Bill No. 325 clarifies that the Regulatory Council for Physician Associates must adopt rules and regulations regarding the following:

1) The licensing of physician associates to allow performance of medical services within their education, training, and experience.

2) An application for independent practice authority within a setting with at least 1 licensed Delaware physician.

3) An application for independent practice authority within a setting with no licensed Delaware Physician.

4) An application to report changes to the practice area of the independent practice authority withing a setting with no licensed Delaware physician.

5) The conditions under which a physician associate who is denied a waiver of the collaborative agreement requirement may reapply.