The hearing on HB2702 was opened.

Carly Choi, Revisor of Statutes, provided an overview of HB2702 (Attachment 21).

Kerstin Stephens, Kansas Academy of Physician Associates (KAPA), provided testimony in support of HB2702 (Attachment 22). The long-standing framework for physician assistants (PA) was first adopted in the 1970s when the PA profession was new to ensure physician oversight and public protection. Demographic shifts and health care shortages, primarily in the rural areas, have increase demand for accessible providers. Adding collaborative practice terminology recognizes PAs as integral team members working with physicians and practices to deliver patient care. There is no change to the scope of practice. A section-by-section summary of the bill was presented to the committee for its review.

Rachelle Colombo, Executive Director, Kansas Medical Society (KMS), provided testimony in support of HB2702 (Attachment 23). KMS and KAPA have been working for the past two years on modernizing and updating the PA licensure act. HB2702 is not a scope of practice bill. The bill does provide flexibility so that PA's practice parameters can be determined by the collaborating physician and the PA, or in the case of a hospital and other facilities, by appropriate credentialing and privilege process of the institution. The bill preserves the traditional "physician supervision" model.

Written only testimony provided by:

Hillary Lewia, Immediate Past President, Kansas Academy of Physician Associates (Attachment 24)

Steven Lewia, Private Citizen (Attachment 25)

Kansas Academy of Family Physicians (Attachment 26)

Neutrals:

Susan Gile, Executive Director, Kansas State Board of Healing, provided neutral testimony on HB2702 (Attachment 27). The statutory mission of the board is public protection. The Board is more comfortable with the bill after there was collaboration. Though the Board is neutral towards the bill, the Board feels some additional clarifications should be made prior to passage. Ms. Gile provided possible areas of clarification to the committee.

Ms. Gile responded to questions from the committee.

The hearing on HB2702 was closed.

The meeting was adjourned at 3:09 PM