Md. Code Ann., Health Occ. § 15-301
Redline — January 1, 2019 → current.View current text →
Current — January 1, 2026
As of January 1, 2019
(a) Nothing in this title may be construed to authorize a physician assistant to practice independent of a primary or alternate supervising physician.
(a) This title may not be construed to authorize a physician assistant to practice independently.
(b) A license issued to a physician assistant shall limit the physician assistant’s scope of practice to medical acts: (1) Delegated by the primary or alternate supervising physician; (2) Appropriate to the education, training, and experience of the physician assistant; (3) Customary to the practice of the primary or alternate supervising physician; and (4) Consistent with the delegation agreement filed with the Board.
(b) A license issued to a physician assistant shall limit the physician assistant’s scope of practice to medical acts: (1) Appropriate to the education, training, and experience of the physician assistant; (2) Customary to the practice of a patient care team physician; and (3) In a manner consistent with the collaboration agreement.
(c) Patient services that may be provided by a physician assistant include: (1) (i) Taking complete, detailed, and accurate patient histories; and (ii) Reviewing patient records to develop comprehensive medical status reports; (2) Performing physical examinations and recording all pertinent patient data; (3) Interpreting and evaluating patient data as authorized by the primary or alternate supervising physician for the purpose of determining management and treatment of patients; (4) Initiating requests for or performing diagnostic procedures as indicated by pertinent data and as authorized by the supervising physician; (5) Providing instructions and guidance regarding medical care matters to patients; (6) Assisting the primary or alternate supervising physician in the delivery of services to patients who require medical care in the home and in health care institutions, including: (i) Recording patient progress notes; (ii) Issuing diagnostic orders; and (iii) Transcribing or executing specific orders at the direction of the primary or alternate supervising physician; and (7) Exercising prescriptive authority under a delegation agreement and in accordance with § 15–302.2 of this subtitle.
(c) Patient services that may be provided by a physician assistant under a collaboration agreement include: (1) Obtaining comprehensive health histories; (2) Performing physical examinations; (3) Evaluating, diagnosing, managing, and providing medical treatment; (4) Interpreting and evaluating patient data as authorized by a patient care team physician for the purpose of determining management and treatment of patients; (5) Initiating requests for or performing diagnostic procedures as indicated by pertinent data and as authorized by a patient care team physician; (6) Exercising prescriptive authority in accordance with § 15–302.2 of this subtitle; (7) Informing patients about health promotion and disease prevention; (8) Providing consultations; (9) Writing medical orders; (10) Obtaining informed consent; (11) Delegating medical acts to licensed or unlicensed personnel as authorized under § 14–306 of this article if the physician assistant has at least 7,000 hours of clinical practice experience; and (12) Certifying a patient’s health or disability as required by a federal, State, or local program.
(d) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this title, an individual shall be licensed by the Board before the individual may practice as a physician assistant.
(d) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this title, an individual shall be licensed by the Board before the individual may practice as a physician assistant.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a physician may not supervise a physician assistant in the performance of delegated medical acts without filing a completed delegation agreement with the Board.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this title, a physician may not collaborate with a physician assistant in the performance of medical acts without notifying the Board of a completed collaboration agreement with the Board.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this title or in a medical emergency, a physician assistant may not perform any medical act for which: (i) The individual has not been licensed; and (ii) The medical acts have not been delegated by a primary or alternate supervising physician.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this title or in a medical emergency, a physician assistant may not perform any medical act: (i) For which the individual has not been licensed; (ii) That has not been delegated in a manner consistent with the collaboration agreement; (iii) That is not appropriate to the education, training, and experience of the physician assistant; and (iv) That is not customary to the practice of a patient care team physician listed on the collaboration agreement.
(e) A physician assistant is the agent of the primary or alternate supervising physician in the performance of all practice–related activities, including the oral, written, or electronic ordering of diagnostic, therapeutic, and other medical services.
(f) Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, the following individuals may practice as a physician assistant without a license:
(1) A physician assistant student enrolled in a physician assistant educational program that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or its successor and approved by the Board; or
(2) A physician assistant employed in the service of the federal government while performing duties incident to that employment.
(e) A physician assistant shall consult and collaborate with or refer an individual to an appropriate licensed physician or any other health care provider as appropriate.
(f) Except as otherwise provided in this title, the following individuals may practice as a physician assistant without a license: (1) A physician assistant student enrolled in a physician assistant educational program that is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or its successor and approved by the Board; or (2) A physician assistant employed in the service of the federal government while practicing within the scope of the employment.
(g) (1) If a medical act that is to be performed by a physician assistant under this section is a part of the practice of a health occupation that is regulated under this article by another board, any rule or regulation concerning that medical act shall be adopted jointly by the State Board of Physicians and the board that regulates the other health occupation.
(2) If the two boards cannot agree on a proposed rule or regulation, the proposal shall be submitted to the Secretary for a final decision.
(2) If the two boards cannot agree on a proposed rule or regulation, the proposal shall be submitted to the Secretary for a final decision.
Official source: Maryland General Assembly. Reproduced from public-domain Maryland statutes; confirm against the official source for the current text. Not legal advice.