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Bill

B 122-38

AN ACT RELATIVE TO GRANTING PRESCRIPTIVE AUTHORITY TO PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS AND INCLUDING PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS ON THE GUAM BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS, AND TO ADOPT RULES AND REGULATIONS AND CODE OF ETHICS FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS BY ADDING A NEW (10) AND (11) OF §12215 AND AMENDING (7) TO §12202(a), (7) AND (8) TO 12202(b), §12203(a) (1) TO (4), AND §121609, ALL OF CHAPTER 12, TITLE 10, GUAM CODE ANNOTATED.

38th Guam Legislature

Guam grants physician assistants prescriptive authority and board representation, expanding their scope of practice to address healthcare access gaps while establishing new regulatory standards.

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Bill Summary · B 122-38

Legislative bill overview

This bill expands the scope of practice for physician assistants (PAs) in Guam by granting them prescriptive authority and mandating their inclusion on the Guam Board of Medical Examiners. It establishes new regulations and a code of ethics governing PA practice through amendments to Guam's medical licensing statutes.

Why is this important

Healthcare access in Guam, an island territory with limited physician availability, could be improved by allowing PAs to prescribe medications independently or with expanded autonomy. This regulatory change affects workforce utilization, patient care delivery, and the professional standing of PAs within Guam's healthcare system.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope and supervision requirements: The bill's specifics on whether PAs prescribe independently or under physician oversight remain unclear from the title alone; this significantly affects physician acceptance
  • Board representation: Adding PAs to the medical board may alter regulatory priorities and could create conflicts of interest in self-governance versus public protection
  • Training and standardization: Establishing new rules and ethics codes requires detailed implementation; inconsistent standards could affect care quality across providers
  • Economic competition: Physicians may resist expanded PA authority as it could reduce patient referrals and revenue in a limited market

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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