Question

• Is there a limit to the number of PAs that can be supervised by a physician?
• Can a PA write prescriptions?
• Are the physicians required to co-sign PA documentation?

Answer 1

Ans) A physician may not supervise more than four currently licensed physician assistants at any one time. Note that this does not limit the number of PAs a physician may have listed for potential supervision, so long as no more than four are being supervised at a time.

- PAs can practice and prescribe medications in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and all US territories except Puerto Rico.

- Unlike nurse practitioners, physician assistants are unable to practice independently in any state. However, state laws dictate the extent of that relationship, including how often the physician must review and cosign PA orders and whether physicians need to be physically present in order to supervise PAs. In the United States, PAs are medical practitioners licensed to practice medicine under a physician's supervision. PAs can see patients without a physician present, but they must be supervised. By state law, PAs must practice under an agreement with and the supervision of (direct or indirect) a supervising physician.