Wisconsin’s 2,750-plus physician assistants are calling on Gov. Tony Evers to change the state regulations that restrict their medical activities, so they can provide much-needed help in the current all-hands-on-deck public health crisis.
Current Wisconsin law restricts the activities of physician assistants more than some other states. Evers has signaled he is open to waiving certain health care restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, but he has yet to offer specifics. Several state professional boards are also considering loosening some of their rules.
Physician assistants — often called PAs — are a type of advanced practice provider, a category that also includes nurse practitioners. They may act like physicians in many respects, prescribing medications, managing treatment plans and making diagnoses.
But Wisconsin requires a physician to supervise each PA, and requires the PAs to work in their supervising physician’s specialty regardless of their own specialization.
To read a report on this topic by Wisconsin Public Radio-Wisconsin Watch, please click on the headline.