Additional Resources for Physician Assistants

• Statutes & Rules

  Licensure Law and Administrative Rules governing this profession are found in various parts of the Indiana Code. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency provides access to the Licensure Law and Administrative Rules, available by clicking on the links below:

  IC 25-27.5ARTICLE 27.5. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS

  • Ch. 1.         Application
  • Ch. 2.         Definitions
  • Ch. 3.         Physician Assistant Committee
  • Ch. 4.         Licensure
  • Ch. 5.         Scope of Practice
  • Ch. 6.         Supervision of Physician Assistants
  • Ch. 7.         Unauthorized Practice; Penalty; Sanctions

  Chapter 9 Health Professions Standards of Practice

  • 25-1-9-1               "Board"
  • 25-1-9-2               "Practitioner"
  • 25-1-9-3               "License"
  • 25-1-9-3.5            "Sexual contact"
  • 25-1-9-4               Standards of professional practice; findings required for sanctions; evidence of foreign discipline
  • 25-1-9-4.5            Failure to provide human trafficking information
  • 25-1-9-5               Optometry employment practice
  • 25-1-9-6               Veterinary practitioners; cruelty to animals
  • 25-1-9-6.5            Chiropractors; waiver of deductible or copayment
  • 25-1-9-6.7            Marriage and family therapists; disciplinary sanctions
  • 25-1-9-6.8            Practitioner guidelines before prescribing stimulant medication for a child for treatment of certain disorders
  • 25-1-9-6.9            Failing to provide or providing false information to agency
  • 25-1-9-7               Physical or mental examination; power to require
  • 25-1-9-8               Failure to submit to physical or mental examination; sanctions
  • 25-1-9-9               Disciplinary sanctions
  • 25-1-9-10             Summary license suspension pending final adjudication; notice; opportunity to be heard
  • 25-1-9-10.1         Retention of clinical consultants and experts to advise on suspension
  • 25-1-9-11             Reinstatement of suspended licenses
  • 25-1-9-12             Reinstatement of revoked license
  • 25-1-9-13             Consistency of sanctions prescribed
  • 25-1-9-14             Surrender of practitioner's license instead of hearing; approval
  • 25-1-9-15             Costs in disciplinary proceedings
  • 25-1-9-16             Refusal of licensure or grant of probationary license
  • 25-1-9-17             Applicant appearance before board
  • 25-1-9-18             Fitness determination of health care provider; filing complaint
  • 25-1-9-19             Third party billing notice
  • 25-1-9-20             Repealed
  • 25-1-9-21             Rules; management and disposition of health records
  • 25-1-9-22             Prohibition on release of screening and test results
  • 25-1-9-23             In network practitioner charge limited to network plan rate; compliance with federal requirement; conditions for reimbursement of out of network practitioner at higher rate; when explanation required

  TITLE 844 MEDICAL LICENSING BOARD OF INDIANA

  • ARTICLE 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS
  • ARTICLE 2. PHYSICIANS' ASSISTANTS (REPEALED)
  • ARTICLE 2.1. PHYSICIAN'S ASSISTANTS (REPEALED)
  • ARTICLE 2.2. PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
  • ARTICLE 3. NURSE-MIDWIVES (TRANSFERRED)
  • ARTICLE 4. MEDICAL DOCTORS; OSTEOPATHIC DOCTOR
  • ARTICLE 5. STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT AND COMPETENT PRACTICE OF MEDICINE
  • ARTICLE 6. PHYSICAL THERAPISTS AND PHYSICAL THERAPISTS' ASSISTANTS
  • ARTICLE 7. REINSTATEMENT TO PRACTICE
  • ARTICLE 8. PODIATRISTS (TRANSFERRED)
  • ARTICLE 9. HEARING AID DEALERS
  • ARTICLE 10. OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY ASSISTANTS
  • ARTICLE 11. RESPIRATORY CARE PRACTITIONERS
  • ARTICLE 12. HYPNOTIST COMMITTEE
  • ARTICLE 13. ACUPUNCTURISTS
  • ARTICLE 14. GENETIC COUNSELORS
  • ARTICLE 15. ANESTHESIOLOGIST ASSISTANTS
  • ARTICLE 16. HIGH BREAST DENSITY GUIDELINES
  • ARTICLE 17. CERTIFIED DIRECT ENTRY MIDWIVES
  • ARTICLE 18. DIABETES EDUCATORS
  • ARTICLE 19. DIETITIANS; CERTIFICATION
• FAQs - Prescriptive Authority for Physician Assistants

  1.      If a PA is applying for prescriptive authority and they are going to have more than one collaborating physician at the facility do they need to submit a prescriptive authority application for each physician?

  • No, you need to only submit one application; however, include additional copies of page 3 of the application with each physician's information.

  2.      If you have more than one collaborating physician do you have to submit separate collaborative agreements?

  • If you have more than one collaborating physician and you will be performing the same duties with each physician they may all be in one agreement.
  • If you are performing separate duties for each physician then a separate agreement should be submitted for each physician.

  3.      If I am going to practice at two separate locations for two separate physicians do I need to complete two prescriptive authority applications?

  • No, you do not need to submit more than one prescriptive authority application. You would submit one prescriptive authority application with one physician.  You would then need to complete Change/Addition Applications for every other collaborating physician.  All collaborative agreements will need to include prescriptive authority in the agreement to prescribe.

  4.      Once I have prescriptive authority do I have it indefinitely or do I have to reapply each time I change supervising physicians?

  • You only need to apply for prescriptive authority once. If you change or add collaborating physicians, you need to complete a Change and/or Addition application along with the collaborative agreement that includes the authority to prescribe within the new practice.

  5.      Must I submit an application for a Controlled Substance Registration (CSR)?

  • You only need to submit an application for a CSR for your place of employment if you are prescribing, administering or dispensing controlled substances.  It is not necessary if you are only prescribing legend drugs.  If you have more than one office, you must apply for a CSR at each location in which you are dispensing or administering controlled substances.  One CSR will cover multiple locations for prescribing.

  6.      How long will it take to obtain my prescriptive authority?

  • The time will first depend on how long it takes the applicant to submit all documents required.
  • The application is then subject to the review and approval of the Physician Assistant Committee.

  7.      Must I renew the prescriptive authority with my PA license?

  • Prescriptive authority is not a renewable status.  Once you are issued prescriptive authority your status will say Physician Assistant-Prescriptive Authority.  You will only need to renew your PA license and any CSR’s you have in June of even years.

  8.      Where I presently work, I do not prescribe, but I will be prescribing at my new place of employment. What do I need to submit?

  • You will need to submit the Change and Addition application and all requirements for it.
  • You will also need to submit the Prescriptive Authority application and all requirements for it with the following exceptions:
    • You are required to only submit one collaborative agreement (same one can be used for both applications as long as the applications are submitted at the same time).
    • You will also need to submit a CSR application and all requirements for it if you will be prescribing controlled substances.

  10.  What needs to be included in the Collaborative Agreement?

  • Please review the collaborative agreement sample.

  11.  Can I practice as soon as you receive my application?

  • If it is an initial application to practice as a physician assistant, you cannot practice until a license is issued and a collaborative agreement is on file.
  • If it is an application for prescriptive authority, you may practice with your collaborating physician as a PA (assuming you are licensed); however, you cannot practice using the prescriptive authority until you receive an approval letter from the Board.
  • You have thirty (30) days after beginning a practice with a new or additional collaborating physician to complete a Change/Addition Application.

  12.  IC 25-27.5-5-2(f)(4) states that the supervisory agreement must specify the name of the drug or drug classification being delegated to the PA and the protocol the PA shall follow in prescribing a drug. What does Protocol mean?

  • Protocols are the instructions that the PA shall follow in prescribing a drug.

  13.   Can I write a prescription for a Schedule II controlled substance?   

  • Yes, if your collaborative agreement and CSR permits you to.
  • If your current collaborative agreement does not permit you to prescribed Schedule II controlled substances, you may have the agreement amended and submitted to the Committee for approval.
• Related Links

  American Academy of Physician Assistants

  National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants

  Indiana Academy of Physician Assistants

• Scope of Practice Rulings

  Licensed practitioners that have a specific question or questions about the scope of practice of their licensed profession may request a "practice ruling" from the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency (PLA) and the Indiana Physician Assistant Committee (the Committee). The PLA and the Committee may provide a formal determination/interpretation based on the practitioner's factual situations/circumstances. Licensed practitioners may submit a "Request for Practice Ruling" through the web-based form provided on the PLA's "Request for Practice Ruling" web page. Additional information and instructions for submitting a "Request for Practice Ruling " are provided on the web page.

  All requests will be reviewed by the PLA's legal team, and PLA's legal team will draft a ruling for the Committee's consideration and potential adoption. All rulings adopted by the Committee will be posted to the Indiana Register as well as the comprehensive list provided on the the PLA's "Request for Practice Ruling" web page.

• Collaborative Agreement Requirements

  Physician Assistant Collaborative Agreement Checklist

  Is the name and License Number of the Physician Assistant Collaborating Physician included in the opening paragraph of the Collaborative Agreement?

  Is the Collaborative Agreement specific to the Physician Assistant?

  Is the Collaborative Agreement printed on the Facilities Letterhead?

  Is the Collaborative Agreement Completely Typed?

  Is the Physician Assistant going to have Prescriptive authority?

  Can the Physician Assistant prescribe Controlled Substances or Not?

  *ATTENTION! AS OF JULY 1, 2016, A LIST OF MEDICATIONS THAT THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

  WILL BE PRESCRIBING IS NO LONGER REQUIRED IN THE AGREEMENT*

  These items must be listed on the first page of the Agreement:

  Name of the Physician Assistant and Collaborating Physician.

  Full business address and telephone number listed under Physician Assistant and Collaborating Physician.

  License Number of the P.A. (unless this is the initial application) and Collaborating Physician.

  The following sections must be included in the Collaborative Agreement

  Chart review with a minimum of 10% of charts reviewed within 10 days of patient engagement.

  Emergency Protocols – who will review if Collaborating Physician is not available, as well as any other emergency protocols.

  List of Additional Practice Addresses.

  Prescriptive Authority (specifically in regards to the Controlled Substance Schedule) prescribing Schedule 2-5 listed. The specific language of “Will not be prescribing Schedule 1 Controlled Substances.

  Prescribing Protocol.

  P.A. and Physician original (or docusign) signatures and dates.

  Role of the Physician Assistant/Delegated Tasks (cannot include general or regional anesthesia).

  If the Collaborative Agreement is for TeleHealth it will need to include the following:

  1. A Physician with an active IN License as Collaborator.  2. If applying for Prescriptive Authority you will need a Controlled Substance Registration Application (at an IN location/address).  3. You will need to have “TeleHealth” Listed under Role of Physician Assistant.