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Ohio PAs tell committee renaming 'physician assistant' to 'physician associate' won't change scope of practice
Summary
Supporters including the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants told the House Health Committee that House Bill 353 would modernize the PA title without expanding clinical authority, and amendments were accepted to ease the transition for billing and administrative systems.
At a second hearing on House Bill 353, proponents urged the committee to update Ohio law to replace the title "physician assistant" with "physician associate." Matthew Fredo, past president and government affairs chair of the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants, told the committee the change would not alter scope of practice, supervision requirements, or reimbursement rules.
"This legislation does not change the scope of practice for PAs," Fredo said, adding that the title "associate" better reflects modern PA education and responsibilities. He cited a national survey finding that "71 percent of patients and 60 percent of physicians believe physician associate better represents what PAs are already doing." Witnesses noted Ohio law already requires clear identification on badges; Fredo referenced that requirement in testimony.
Melissa Balbi, a PA program director who testified for the profession, described the education pathway for PAs: applicants complete extensive undergraduate science coursework, then on average "27 months in person didactic and clinical education" with supervised clinical rotations. She said the title change aligns Ohio with national practice and is intended to reduce patient confusion.
Committee members questioned whether the change would cause billing or reimbursement problems. Supporters said states that have adopted the title have not reported reimbursement issues and that the amendment AM‑0890—moved and accepted in committee—explicitly allows continued use of "physician assistant" where necessary for Medicaid, Medicare, enrollment, or reimbursement during transition.
No final passage vote occurred in the hearing; committee members accepted written testimony and concluded the session.
