2025 Legislative wrap-up

 

MAPA wins 2080 hour legislative victory before adjournment.

 

We are excited to announce the passage of revisions to the 2080-hour rule in Minnesota Statute 147A.02, qualifications for licensure, which will take effect on August 1, 2025.

 

Why were these changes necessary?  The 2080-hour rule was designed to ensure that new graduates have a collaborative agreement in place during their first year of practice—a critical time for professional development. The recent update allows experienced PAs applying for licensure in Minnesota to count their prior clinical experience toward this 2080-hour requirement.

Additionally, the second change clarifies that a collaborative agreement does not define the specific services a PA may provide. Instead, it outlines the level and scope of collaboration needed between the PA and their collaborating physician.

 

The changes are shown below.  Additions in bold.  Deletions use strikethrough. The remainder is existing statutory language.

(c) A physician assistant who qualifies for licensure must practice for at least 2,080 hours, within the context of a collaborative agreement, within a hospital or integrated clinical setting where physician assistants and physicians work together to provide patient care. The physician assistant shall submit written evidence to the board with the application, or upon completion of the required collaborative practice experience. For purposes of this paragraph, a collaborative agreement is a mutually agreed upon plan for the overall working relationship and collaborative arrangement between a physician assistant, and one or more physicians licensed under chapter 147 or licensed in another state or United States territory, that designates the scope of services that can be provided, collaboration necessary to manage the care of patients. The physician assistant and one of the collaborative physicians must have experience in providing care to patients with the same or similar medical conditions. The collaborating physician is not required to be physically present so long as the collaborating physician and physician assistant are or can be easily in contact with each other by radio, telephone, or other telecommunication device.

 

2024 Legislative wrap-up

 

Late in the evening of May 19, 2024, with only a few minutes until the close of legislative session, the Minnesota legislature passed an omnibus health licensing bill, amended to an omnibus tax bill (HF 5247), containing two pivotal provisions directly impacting PA practice in our state.

 

Firstly, a crucial achievement was reached through the elimination of a redundant and confusing clause from our statutes, which previously imposed arbitrary limitations on PAs treating patients with mental illness (Article 22). This alignment with federal policy acknowledges PAs as an integral part of the healthcare team and enhances access to critically needed mental healthcare in our state.

 

Secondly, Minnesota now joins the PA licensure compact, marking our state as the 10th to join this initiative (Article 26). This compact will facilitate Minnesota PAs in serving patients who reside in or travel to other states or who live in border communities. While the compact has been enacted, we anticipate a transitional period of around 2 years before it is fully operational.

 

MAPA extends sincere appreciation to the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice for their support of both provisions. We also express gratitude to the Minnesota legislature for recognizing the significance of these bills in broadening access to the high-quality healthcare that PAs deliver to patients across Minnesota.

 

We would like to acknowledge and thank the dedicated efforts of the Legislative and Reimbursement Committee, the Board of the Minnesota Academy of PAs, our lobbyist, Tom Lehman, and the advocacy staff at AAPA, who all tirelessly advocated for the passage of both these bills.

 

These legislative advancements represent a significant step forward for the PA profession in Minnesota, empowering us to better serve our patients and communities. Let's continue to work together to uphold the highest standards of care and advocate for policies that promote the well-being of both patients and healthcare providers. We encourage all of you to join the Minnesota Academy of PAs to stay informed, engaged, and united as we continue to shape the future of our profession in Minnesota. 

 

Thank you for your ongoing dedication and commitment to excellence in healthcare and PA practice.