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HF 89

Physician assistant collaborative agreement requirements modified.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Jeff Backer and 11 co-sponsors

HF 89 would modify when physician assistants must have collaborative agreements, potentially altering autonomy, prescriptive authority, and supervision requirements.

Authors added Hemmingsen-Jaeger and Zeleznikar
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Bill Summary · HF 89

Summary of HF 89 (2025-2026) – Minnesota: Physician Assistant Collaborative Agreement Requirements Modified

Overview

HF 89 proposes changes to the requirements surrounding collaborative practice agreements for physician assistants (PAs) in Minnesota. The bill aims to modify how and when collaborative agreements are required, potentially altering oversight, autonomy, and administrative burdens for PAs and supervising physicians.

Purpose and Intent

  • Improve or recalibrate the regulatory framework governing PA practice by adjusting the necessity, scope, or terms of collaborative agreements between PAs and supervising physicians.
  • Potentially expand or clarify the degree of professional autonomy for PAs, while maintaining patient safety and appropriate clinical oversight.

Key Provisions (as indicated by the bill’s focus)

Note: The following provisions are typical in bills that modify PA collaborative agreement requirements. The exact text of HF 89 would specify the precise changes, but the essential topics likely addressed include:
- Criteria for when a PA must enter into a collaborative practice agreement with a physician.
- Scope of practice allowances for PAs with and without a formal collaborative agreement (e.g., prescriptive authority, diagnostic responsibilities, treatment planning).
- Requirements for the content and scope of collaborative agreements (roles, supervision expectations, duration, and renewal processes).
- Provisions for timelines to obtain, modify, or terminate collaborative agreements.
- Regulatory or administrative oversight changes (e.g., how and where agreements are filed, who must maintain them, and how compliance is monitored).
- Possible criteria for waivers, exemptions, or streamlined processes for certain settings (e.g., rural clinics, telemedicine, specialty practices).

Who Would Be Affected

  • Physician assistants practicing in Minnesota, including those in primary care, specialty care, hospitals, clinics, and potentially rural or underserved settings.
  • Supervising physicians who oversee PA practice under collaborative agreements.
  • Employers and healthcare facilities employing PAs (hospitals, clinics, Federally Qualified Health Centers, etc.) to the extent they must implement or maintain collaborative agreements.
  • State boards and regulatory bodies responsible for PA licensure, supervision standards, and scope-of-practice rules.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduced and first read in the 2025-2026 session, with ongoing committee referrals (Health Finance and Policy is the initial committee of reference).
  • Authorship and sponsorship terminology:
    • Primary authors and multiple co-sponsors listed, indicating bipartisan or broad stakeholder support.
    • Co-sponsors include a mix of representatives, suggesting cross-cutting interest across districts.
  • Next steps typically include committee hearings, potential amendments, and floor votes before passage or rejection.
  • If enacted, the bill would be codified into Minnesota statutes or adjust existing statutory language governing PA practice.

Potential Impacts and Implications

  • Practicing PAs: Possible changes to practice autonomy, prescriptive authority, and daily workflow depending on whether the collaborative agreement is required in full, partially modified, or subject to waivers.
  • Supervising Physicians: May face new or altered supervision expectations, documentation requirements, and oversight obligations.
  • Access to Care: In settings with shortages (rural, underserved), modified requirements could improve PA utilization and patient access if restrictions are eased.
  • Administrative Burden: Depending on the bill’s specifics, there could be changes to the administrative process of creating, renewing, or terminating collaborative agreements.

Notes for Readers

  • The exact language of HF 89 will determine the precise effect on scope of practice, supervision requirements, and administrative processes. For a complete understanding, review the bill text, fiscal note (if any), and any committee amendments as the measure progresses.
  • This summary reflects the bill’s intent to modify collaborative agreement requirements; it does not reflect final enacted law.

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

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