Panel debates moving physician assistants under Guam Board of Medical Examiners; concerns about board composition and prescribing rules

Lawmakers and health providers on Wednesday examined competing views over a bill that would move physician assistant (PA) licensure and regulation from the Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners to the Guam Board of Medical Examiners and adopt a PA code of ethics and updated prescriptive rules.

Senator Therese Trelahi, identified in committee as the bill sponsor, told the panel the change would align Guam with the prevailing U.S. model in which medical licensing boards oversee PAs; she said the bill preserves current credential and continuing‑education requirements while allowing the Guam Board of Medical Examiners (GBME) to adopt rules for collaborative practice agreements.

Why it matters: Witnesses said the matter affects clinical oversight, patient safety and how scope‑of‑practice disputes are resolved. The hearings surfaced technical inconsistencies in draft language about prescriptive authority and a duplicate Guam controlled substance registration (CSR) fee, and several physicians warned that altering board composition could create conflicts of interest.

Testimony and main points

Heidi Kanata, chief…