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Committee hears bill to allow physician assistants and nurse practitioners to serve as county medical examiners
Summary
A public hearing on Senate Bill 536 centered on expanding who may serve as county medical examiners to include licensed physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). Supporters said the change would help rural counties cope with rising caseloads; no vote was taken.
House Committee on Behavioral Health and Healthcare Chair Noss opened a public hearing April 22 on Senate Bill 536, a measure to expand the pool of clinicians eligible to serve as county medical examiners to include licensed physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
The bill’s supporters told the committee the change is aimed at easing caseload pressure on Oregon’s medical examiner system and improving access in rural areas. Lisa Hayes, a physician associate practicing in Oregon and acting chair of the government affairs committee for the Oregon Society of PAs, said, "PAs are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting in the state of Oregon." Hayes added the profession is ‘‘dedicated to…
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