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Physician assistant board urges flexibility as lawmakers probe practice agreements and workforce expansion
Summary
The Physician Assistant Board told lawmakers California now has about 18,200 PAs and more education programs; members and stakeholders debated whether physician–PA ratios and written practice agreements should be relaxed to expand access in underserved regions, with supporters urging employer- and site-level flexibility.
The Physician Assistant Board reported to the joint sunset committees that California’s PA workforce has grown and described regulatory steps intended to modernize practice while preserving patient safety.
Board president Vasco Deonkidd said the state has roughly 18,200 physician assistants—a 22 percent increase since the previous review—and currently 20 accredited PA education programs with more in the accreditation queue. The board said those increases could add more than 1,000 PA graduates to the workforce annually if programs remain active.
Committee focus: ratios and practice agreements Lawmakers and public witnesses repeatedly questioned whether the state’s…
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