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Physician Assistant board urges regulatory flexibility as PA workforce expands
Summary
The Physician Assistant Board reported a 22% increase in PAs in California and urged the Legislature to consider changes to physician‑to‑PA ratios and practice agreements to expand access, especially in rural and underserved regions.
Dr. Vasco Deonkidd (identified in testimony as Vasco Deonkidd), president of the Physician Assistant Board, told the joint sunset hearing that California now licenses roughly 18,200 physician assistants, a 22% increase since the last review, and that the number of accredited PA programs in the state has grown from 16 to 20 with additional applicant programs in the accreditation queue.
"California is home to the second largest PA population in the nation," Dr. Deonkidd said, adding that if all current programs remain operational, "more than 1,000 PA graduates will enter the workforce annually." He and board staff said the board is focusing on modernizing regulation after the passage of SB 697 (implemented Oct. 1, 2024) and on fee adjustments to…
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