AN ACT RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS (Permits physician assistants to practice without a physician's direct supervision and receives direct payments from Medicaid.)

H7274

2026 -- H 7274
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
____________
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

Introduced By:
Representatives Hopkins, J. Brien, Casimiro, Shanley, Perez, Nardone,
Fascia, Ackerman, Tanzi, and Chippendale

Date Introduced:
January 23, 2026

Referred To:
House Health & Human Services
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Sections 5-54-5 and 5-54-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 5-54 entitled
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"Physician Assistants" are hereby amended to read as follows:
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5-54-5. Board of licensure.
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(a) The director of the department of health, with the approval of the governor, shall appoint
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a board consisting of
seven (7)

nine (9)
persons, residents of the state, to constitute a board of
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licensure for physician assistants with the duties, powers, and authority as stated in this chapter,
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and that board shall be composed of the following:
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(1) Two (2) members shall be licensed physicians under the provisions of chapter 37 of
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this title who have been actively engaged in the practice of medicine;
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(2) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 197, § 1 and P.L. 2019, ch. 230, § 1.]
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(3) Two (2) members who are representatives of the general public not employed in any
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health-related field; and
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(4)
Three (3)

Five (5)
members shall be physician assistants.
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(b) Members shall be appointed for terms of three (3) years each. No member shall be
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appointed to more than two (2) consecutive terms. Upon expiration of the term of office, a member
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shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed and qualified.
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(c)
In the director’s initial appointment, the

The
director shall designate the members of
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the board of licensure for physician assistants as follows:
two (2)

three (3)
members to serve for
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terms of three (3) years;
two (2)

three (3)
members to serve for a term of two (2) years; and three

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(3) members to serve for a term of one year. Any additional appointments shall serve for one year.
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(d) The director of the department of health may remove any member of the board for
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cause.
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(e) Vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired portion of any term in the same manner as
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the original appointment.
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5-54-8. Permitted healthcare practices by physician assistants.
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(a) Physician assistants shall
practice in collaboration

collaborate
with
, consult with, or
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refer to the appropriate member of the healthcare team as indicated by the condition of the patient,
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the education, experience, and competence of the physician assistant, and the standard of care

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physicians
.
The degree of collaboration shall be determined at the practice which may include
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decisions made by the employer, group, hospital service, and the credentialing and privileging
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systems of a licensed facility.
A physician assistant is responsible for the care provided by that
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physician assistant and a written agreement related to the items in this chapter is not required. A
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physician assistant may provide any medical or surgical services that are within the physician
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assistant’s skills, education, and training. Whenever any provision of general or public law or
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regulation requires a signature, certification, stamp, verification, affidavit, or endorsement by a
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physician, it shall be deemed to include a signature, certification, stamp, verification, affidavit, or
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endorsement by a physician assistant. Physician assistants may perform those duties and
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responsibilities consistent with the limitations of this section, including prescribing, administering,
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procuring, and dispensing of drugs and medical devices. Physician assistants may request, receive,
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sign for, and distribute professional samples of drugs and medical devices to patients only within
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the limitations of this section. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a physician assistant
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may provide medical and surgical services when those services are rendered in collaboration with
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a licensed physician.
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(b) [Deleted by P.L. 2019, ch. 197, § 1 and P.L. 2019, ch. 230, § 1].
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(c) Physician assistants may write prescriptions and medical orders to the extent provided
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in this paragraph. When extended medical staff privileges by a licensed hospital or other licensed
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healthcare facility in accordance with subsection (e) of this section, a physician assistant may write
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medical orders for inpatients as delineated by the medical staff bylaws of the facility as well as its
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credentialing process and applicable governing authority. Physician assistants may prescribe
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legend medications including Schedule II, III, IV, and V medications under chapter 28 of title 21
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of the Rhode Island uniform controlled substances act, medical therapies, medical devices, and
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medical diagnostics.
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(d) When collaborating with a physician licensed under chapter 29 of this title, the service

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rendered by the physician assistant shall be limited to the foot. The “foot” is defined as the pedal
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extremity of the human body and its articulations, and includes the tendons and muscles of the
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lower leg only as they are involved in conditions of the foot.
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(e) Hospitals and other licensed healthcare facilities have discretion to grant privileges to
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a physician assistant and to define the scope of privileges or services that a physician assistant may
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deliver in a facility.
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(f) A physician assistant shall not undertake or represent that he or she is qualified to
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provide a medical or surgical care service that he or she knows or reasonably should know to be
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outside his or her competence or is prohibited by law.
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(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of law or regulation, a physician assistant shall be
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considered to be a primary care provider when the physician assistant is practicing in the medical
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specialties required for a physician to be a primary care provider.
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SECTION 2. Chapter 40-8 of the General Laws entitled "Medical Assistance" is hereby
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amended by adding thereto the following section:
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40-8-33. Direct payments to physician assistants.
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Licensed physician assistants shall be permitted to receive payments directly from the
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department for medical services provided under this chapter. The director shall make and
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promulgate rules, regulations, and fee schedules consistent with the provisions of the federal Social
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Security Act, 42 U.S.C. § 1396 et seq., and any rules or regulations promulgated pursuant thereto
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to ensure direct payments to licensed physician assistants.
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SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO BUSINESSES AND PROFESSIONS -- PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
***
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This act would increase the number of physician assistants serving on the board of licensure
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for physician assistants. This act would also remove the requirement that physician assistants
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practice under the direct supervision of a physician. Further, this act would require the department
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of human services to amend its regulations to permit direct payment to physician assistants.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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