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Sponsor Statement for HB 411
Physician Assistants

"An Act relating to physician assistants; providing that a physician assistant is a health care provider covered by certain laws relating to medical malpractice actions; adding physician assistants to the list of providers against whom unfair discrimination relating to health care insurance is prohibited and to the list of providers who can provide proof of disablement or handicap for the purpose of motor vehicle registration or for the purpose of obtaining a special license plate or a special parking permit; and providing for an effective date."

HB 411 was at the request of the Alaska Academy of Physician Assistants who submitted three resolutions to be considered for inclusion in the state laws.

The resolutions were drafted in order to update existing state laws and to include physician assistants as recognized providers of medical care described in the particular statutes. It is believed that when the laws were drafted and passed, physician assistants were not prevalent as health care providers in the state of Alaska. However, over the ensuing years physician assistants have become integral to providing health care to rural and urban areas around the state.

The three resolutions are attempts to rectify problematic areas in the statutes, as they do not list physician assistants as recognized health care providers. This has hindered appropriate medical follow up for patients of physician assistants. The statutory changes will also prevent any discriminatory action against physician assistants without the opportunity to be assessed by their peers.

The attached resolutions as well as the current statutes they refer to will hopefully elaborate the academy's position and request. I respectfully request that you review the requests and support and pass HB 411 from committee.

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