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HB 4292

Relating to authorizing the Board of Medicine to promulgate a legislative rule relating to licensure, practice requirements, disciplinary and complaint procedures, and continuing education for physician assistants.

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Doug Smith

West Virginia HB 4292 would let the Board of Medicine create a comprehensive legislative rule regulating physician assistants, including licensure, supervision, scope of practice,

To House Judiciary
#legislature--rulemaking
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Bill Summary · HB 4292

Overview

HB 4292 (Session 2026, West Virginia) seeks to authorize the Board of Medicine to promulgate a legislative rule governing physician assistants, covering licensure, practice requirements, disciplinary and complaint procedures, and continuing education. The bill directs the Board to establish a rulemaking framework that defines the standards and processes for the licensure and regulation of physician assistants (PAs) within the state.

Purpose and intent

  • To enable the Board of Medicine to adopt a legislative rule that comprehensively regulates physician assistants.
  • To formalize requirements related to licensure, scope of practice, professional conduct, complaint handling, disciplinary actions, and continuing education.
  • To ensure consistent oversight of PAs in clinical practice through a standardized regulatory framework.

Key provisions and changes (as anticipated by the bill)

  • Authorization for rulemaking: The Board of Medicine is authorized to promulgate a legislative rule specific to PAs, rather than relying solely on existing statutes or non-legislative guidance.
  • Licensure requirements: The rule would define eligibility criteria for PA licensure (education, credentialing, examinations, and any supervised practice requirements).
  • Practice requirements: The rule would specify the scope of practice, supervision requirements (e.g., supervising physician relationships, degree of delegation, and tethering to physicians as appropriate), and any practice setting limitations.
  • Disciplinary procedures: The rule would establish processes for handling complaints, investigations, and disciplinary actions against PAs, including grounds for discipline, due process protections, and appeal rights.
  • Continuing education (CE): The rule would set CE requirements for PAs to maintain licensure, including hours, acceptable activities, and renewal timelines.
  • Enforcement and compliance: Provisions likely addressing monitoring, reporting, and penalties for noncompliance with the rule or licensure requirements.

Who is affected

  • Physician assistants practicing in West Virginia seeking licensure or renewal.
  • Supervising physicians and healthcare facilities employing PAs, given supervision and practice requirements.
  • Members of the medical community and the public, who would be subject to standardized discipline and complaint processes and enhanced CE requirements.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Procedural path: The bill has progressed through:
    • Filed for introduction (January 14, 2026)
    • Assigned to Government Organization, then Judiciary
    • Reported “Do pass, but first to Judiciary” (January 30, 2026)
  • Next steps: If advanced, the rulemaking authority would draft the legislative rule and submit it for legislative review and potential adoption as a legislative rule under West Virginia’s rulemaking procedures.

Co-sponsors

  • Primary sponsor: (not listed)
  • Co-sponsor: Doug Smith

Potential impact and considerations

  • Standardization: Creates a unified regulatory framework for PAs, potentially improving accountability and patient safety.
  • Clarity for practitioners: Provides explicit licensure and CE requirements, reducing regulatory ambiguity.
  • Impact on practice models: Supervision and scope provisions could influence how PAs collaborate with physicians and operate in various clinical settings.
  • Implementation: The effectiveness will depend on the specificity of the rule language and alignment with existing statutes, as well as the stakeholder consultation process during rule development.

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize specific sections once the rule language is published or provide a comparison to existing West Virginia PA regulatory practices.

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

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