Read More - California Academy of Physician Assistants

So When Do I Get My Fluoroscopy Permit?
by Bob Miller, PA, Professional Practice Chair
Many of you may vaguely
remember something about
CAPA supported legislation
that was passed a few years ago to
allow PAs to obtain a fluoroscopy
permit. Your long-term memory is
intact - we just haven’t gotten there
yet.
Assembly Bill 356 (Fletcher) passed
and was then signed by the Governor
and filed with the Secretary of State
on October 11, 2009. Although this
legislation created a pathway for PAs
to use fluoroscopy, there were no
existing regulations to address the
provisions specified in AB 356. So
with the law in place, regulations
were then required to describe how
AB 356 should be implemented
to define the procedures to obtain
and renew a permit and to specify
the expanded scope-of-work for a
PA. At this writing, the California
Department of Public Health has
developed regulatory language which
is now in a public comment period
to end on January 14, 2013. If
there is no opposition to the current
language it will continue to move
forward without the need for more
public hearings. We are not aware of
opposition at this point and CAPA
has submitted a letter of support.
We still need to wait for final official
completion of the regulatory process,
however we hope the new regulations
will be finalized soon. While we
are waiting, here are some of the
main points contained within the
new regulations (which could still
change).
Briefly, as proposed, the new
regulations would:
1) Define eligibility criteria
for a PA to apply for a PA-
Fluoroscopy permit, such as
holding a current PA license
and recognizing PAs in the
definition of a “licentiate”.
2) Establish a more compact set
of educational and clinical
requirements to include a 40
hour didactic course followed
by 40 hours of clinical training
(on the job) with appropriate
supervision and reporting
criteria.
3) Define requirements for
delegation of procedures
within the DSA and for
appropriate supervision by
physicians who must also hold
a current fluoroscopy permit.
This places the practice site
with the determination of what
the PA will be authorized to do
within the permit limitations.
4) Require a minimum of 10
hours of continuing education
to renew the permit every two
years.
5) Define who may offer
the didactic and clinical
training and guidelines for
documentation of completion.
Continued on page 4

So When Do I Get My Fluoroscopy Permit?
Continued from page 3
6) Establish the fees associated with initial permit application and
renewal.
The addition of these regulations actually establishes a second
pathway for PAs to obtain a fluoroscopy permit. As stated above,
this new pathway is an abbreviated educational approach as a now
defined “licentiate” (previously limited to those with a MD, DO,
DC and DPM). The currently existing pathway is to complete
a two-year course to become a certified radiologic technologist
(CRT) and then complete approximately 55 hours to obtain a
fluoroscopy permit. This current pathway would allow for a much
wider expansion of scope of practice because the duties of the CRT
are not tied to the PA license. My guess is most PAs will go for the
abbreviated approach.
The above is just an overview of proposed regulations. Once they are
final, we will place more complete updates in the CAPA News and
the on the CAPA website. •
Robert Miller, PA
CAPA Professional Practice Committee Chair
… your host on an enlightening series
of videos depicting the history of
physician assistant practice in California
and the evolution of the Physician
Assistant Practice Act.
• PA Scope of Practice
• Prescriptive Authority and Protocols
• Laws and Regulations
• The Surgical PA
• Reimbursement Issues
• The New PA and the New Job
CAPA Members Can View
the Videos On-line at
www.capanet.org