Alaska Legislature passes physician associate, pharmacist bill

The Alaska Legislature passed a health care bill Wednesday that changes the title of physician assistants to physician associates and updates pharmacy-related laws. The changes affect how medical professionals are licensed and what services pharmacists can provide.

House Bill 195 was returned to the House for transmission to the governor after passing the Senate on the final day of the regular session, according to the official legislative bill record.

The bill changes the term "physician assistant" to "physician associate" in state law. The change aligns Alaska with a national movement by the American Academy of Physician Associates, which adopted the new title in 2021 to better reflect the scope and autonomy of the profession. The title change does not alter the duties or qualifications of these medical professionals.

The bill also addresses collaborative practice agreements for pharmacists, prescriptions for opioid overdose drugs, administration of drugs and devices by pharmacists, and pharmacist reciprocity. These provisions expand what pharmacists can do without requiring separate trips to a doctor.

On the Senate floor, the bill drew concern from at least one senator over a provision tied to an executive administrator position and licensing compacts. The bill nevertheless passed the Senate 14-6, according to the floor transcript.

The current official status is "returned to House, governor next."