MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE

1998 Regular Session

To: Public Health and Welfare

By: Senator(s) Simmons

AN ACT TO CODIFY SECTION 73-43-10, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO AUTHORIZE THE STATE BOARD OF MEDICAL LICENSURE TO PROMULGATE RULES AND REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE PRACTICE OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS; TO AMEND SECTION 73-43-11, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, IN CONFORMITY THERETO; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES. 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. The following provision shall be codified as Section 73-43-10, Mississippi Code of 1972:

73-43-10. (1) As used in this section:

(a) "Board" means the State Board of Medical Licensure.

(b) "Physician assistant" means a person who meets the board's criteria for licensure as a physician assistant and is licensed as a physician assistant by the board.

(c) "Supervising physician" means a doctor of medicine or a doctor of osteopathic medicine who holds an unrestricted license from the board, and who is in the full-time practice of medicine and who has been approved by the board to supervise physician assistants.

(d) "Supervision" means overseeing and accepting responsibility for the medical services rendered by a physician assistant in a manner approved by the board.

(2) The board shall promulgate and publish reasonable rules and regulations necessary to enable it to discharge its functions and to enforce the provisions of law regulating the practice of physician assistants. Such rules shall include, but are not limited to: qualifications for licensure for physician assistants, scope of practice of physician assistants, supervision of physician assistants, identification of physician assistants, and grounds for disciplinary actions and discipline of physician assistants.

SECTION 2. Section 73-43-11, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:

73-43-11. The State Board of Medical Licensure shall have the following powers and responsibilities:

(a) Setting policies and professional standards regarding the medical practice of physicians, osteopaths, podiatrists and physician assistants practicing under a physician's supervision;

(b) Considering applications for licensure;

(c) Conducting examinations for licensure;

(d) Investigating alleged violations of the medical practice act;

(e) Conducting hearings on disciplinary matters involving violations of state and federal law, probation, suspension and revocation of licenses;

(f) Considering petitions for termination of probationary and suspension periods, and restoration of revoked licenses;

(g) To promulgate and publish reasonable rules and regulations necessary to enable it to discharge its functions and to enforce the provisions of law regulating the practice of medicine; * * *

(h) To enter into contracts with any other state or federal agency, or with any private person, organization or group capable of contracting, if it finds such action to be in the public interest and in the furtherance of its responsibilities; and

(j) Perform the duties prescribed by Section 73-43-10, Mississippi Code of 1972.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 1998.