Section 246-918-055. Delegation agreements.

(1) The physician assistant and sponsoring physician must submit a joint delegation agreement on forms provided by the commission. A physician assistant may not begin practicing without written commission approval of a delegation agreement.

(2) The delegation agreement must specify:

(a) The names and Washington state license numbers of the sponsoring physician and alternate physician, if any. In the case of a group practice, the alternate physicians do not need to be individually identified;

(b) A detailed description of the scope of practice of the physician assistant;

(c) A description of the supervision process for the practice; and

(d) The location of the primary practice and all remote sites and the amount of time spent by the physician assistant at each site.

(3) The sponsoring physician and the physician assistant shall determine which services may be performed and the degree of supervision under which the physician assistant performs the services.

(4) The physician assistant's scope of practice may not exceed the scope of practice of the supervising physician.

(5) A physician assistant practicing in a multispecialty group or organization may need more than one delegation agreement depending on the physician assistant's training and the scope of practice of the physician(s) the physician assistant will be working with.

(6) It is the joint responsibility of the physician assistant and the supervising physician(s) to notify the commission in writing of any significant changes in the scope of practice of the physician assistant. The commission or its designee will evaluate the changes and determine whether a new delegation agreement is required.

(7) A physician may enter into delegation agreements with up to five physician assistants, but may petition the commission for a waiver of this limit. However, no physician may have under his or her supervision:

(a) More than three physician assistants who are working in remote sites as provided in WAC 246-918-120; or

(b) More physician assistants than the physician can adequately supervise.

(8) Within thirty days of termination of the working relationship, the sponsoring physician or the physician assistant shall submit a letter to the commission indicating the relationship has been terminated.

(9) Whenever a physician assistant is practicing in a manner inconsistent with the approved delegation agreement, the commission may take disciplinary action under chapter 18.130 RCW.

[Statutory Authority: RCW 18.71.017, 18.130.050, chapter 18.71A RCW, and 2013 c 203. WSR 15-04-122, § 246-918-055, filed 2/3/15, effective 3/6/15.]

RCW 18.71.017, 18.130.050, chapter 18.71A RCW, and 2013 c 203. WSR 15-04-122, § 246-918-055, filed 2/3/15, effective 3/6/15.

Rules

246-918-120,