Q. Who do I
contact with a question regarding PA practice statutes?
A.
NJSSPA is always happy to try to help, but if you need the official
definitive word, the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee (PAAC) is responsible
for the interpretation of statutes regarding practice. The PAAC may be
contacted at:
973-504-6580.
-
Physician Assistant Advisory Committee
- 124 Halsey Street, 6th Floor
-
PO Box 45035
-
Newark, NJ 07101
Q. How do I apply
for a NJ physician assistant license?
A.
Contact the Physician Assistant Advisory Committee at 973-504-6580. They
will be happy to send you an application packet and a copy of the
statutes. License processing time varies but usually takes around 8
weeks.
Q. What is the
license application process like?
A.
The term "cumbersome" comes to mind. While the PAAC has been working to
streamline the process, NJ has one of the largest application packets in
the country. Follow the instructions carefully, and do everything in
your power to chase down the required letters - an incomplete
application may cause major delays. License processing time varies but usually takes around 8
weeks.
CLICK
HERE to download a license application
Q. How do I apply
for a prescriptive authority for controlled dangerous substances?
A.
There are several steps to the application process. You must first
contact the New Jersey Drug Control Unit, a division of consumer
affairs. Their contact information can be found here:
http://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/drug/dchome.htm
After you have been
approved by the state, you need to make application to the DEA. The DEA
application process can be completed online at:
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/
After this process is complete, you will need to contact an authorized
prescription vendor to have the appropriate prescription blanks printed. A
list of authorized vendors may be found on the
NJ Drug Control Unit website.
Q. If I do not have
a DEA number, can I write an order for a CDS for an inpatient?
A.
According to the minutes of the PAAC meeting of September
19, 2008:
"The Committee determined that in a hospital setting there is no
requirement to obtain a CDS or DEA number. However, it is protective to
have CDS and DEA numbers. A physician assistant may accept a telephone
and verbal order must be countersigned by a physician within 24 hours. A
physician assistant cannot initiate an order without prior consultation
with the physician."
Q. What do I do
about a stolen prescription?
A.
If you become aware of stolen or forged New Jersey Prescription
Blanks, you must notify the State Office of
Drug Control (973-504-6558) within 72 hours.
Q. Who may
supervise a physician assistant?
A.
Any physician possessing an
unrestricted, plenary license to practice medicine and surgery in the
State of New Jersey may serve as a supervising physician. This includes
physicians with the Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Doctor of Osteopathy
(DO) degree.
Q.
How many physician assistants may a
physician supervise?
A.
In private practice, a physician may supervise
two full-time equivalent physician assistants. In a hospital-based
setting, a physician may supervise four full-time equivalent physician
assistants.
Q.
How is a supervisory relationship with a
physician documented?
A.
Each New Jersey PA should submit a copy of a "Verification of
Supervision/Employment" form to the Physician
Assistant Advisory Committee within 10 days of establishing a new
supervisory relationship. If a PA works in multiple clinical jobs, a
form should be submitted for each supervising physician. A copy of this
form may be downloaded by
CLICKING HERE.
Q. May a resident
physician supervise a physician assistant?
A.
Provided that the resident has a
plenary license in good standing, a DO or MD resident physician may
serve as supervising physician to a physician assistant.
Q. May a dentist
or podiatrist supervise a physician assistant?
A.
Since holders of DDS, DMD and DPM
degrees are not plenary licensed physicians, they may not act as
supervising physicians for physician assistants.
Q. Must a
physician be physically present to supervise a physician
assistant?
A.
“Direct supervision” requires that a
physician assistant always be able to contact the supervising physician
through electronic means. Inpatient settings additionally require at
least intermittent presence of the supervising physician.
Q.
What are the countersignature requirements
for orders written by physician assistants?
A.
In an inpatient setting, all orders by
a physician assistant are to be signed within 24 hours. In an outpatient
setting, orders for the administration or prescription of medications
are to be signed within 48 hours. All other orders are to be signed
within a week.
Q.
May a physician assistant write orders for
therapy modalities such as physical or occupational therapy?
A.
If the prescription of therapy
modalities lies within the supervising physician’s scope of practice,
the supervising physician may delegate this prescriptive authority to a
physician assistant.
Q.
May a physician assistant manage patients
who are new to a practice?
A.
The statutes do not make a distinction between “new” and
“established” patients. A physician assistant may therefore manage new
patients provided the above mentioned requirements for direct
supervision are met. Individual insurance programs (particularly
Medicare and Medicaid) may have differing regulations.
Q.
How many times can a physician assistant see a patient without the
patient being seen by a physician?
A.
The statutes do not set a ratio of visits for patients to been
seen by a physician assistant or their supervising physician. The
requirements for direct supervision noted above must be met. The
physician assistant must remember that the supervising physician is
responsible for directing the patient’s care and must be made aware of
changes in the patient’s condition or treatment plan. Individual
insurance programs (particularly Medicare and Medicaid) may have
differing regulations.
