1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to health occupations; modifying physician assistant title to physician 
1.3 	associate; making conforming changes;amending Minnesota Statutes 2024, sections 
1.4 	147A.01, subdivision 18; 147A.03, subdivision 1, by adding a subdivision.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 147A.01, subdivision 18, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 18.Physician assistant associate or licensed physician assistant
1.8 	associate. "Physician assistant associate" or "licensed physician assistant associate" means 
1.9 	a person licensed pursuant to this chapter who meets the qualifications in section 147A.02.

1.10 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 147A.03, subdivision 1, is amended to read:
1.11 		Subdivision 1.Protected titles. No individual may use the titles "Minnesota Licensed 
1.12 	Physician Associate," "Licensed Physician Associate," "Physician Associate," "Minnesota 
1.13 	Licensed Physician Assistant," "Licensed Physician Assistant," "Physician Assistant," or 
1.14 	"PA" in connection with the individual's name, or any other words, letters, abbreviations, 
1.15 	or insignia indicating or implying that the individual is licensed by the state unless they 
1.16 	have been licensed according to this chapter.

1.17 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2024, section 147A.03, is amended by adding a subdivision to 
1.18 	read:
1.19 		Subd. 5.Title revision. (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a physician 
1.20 	assistant must be titled a "physician associate" in Minnesota Statutes and Minnesota Rules. 
1.21 	The terms "physician associate," "physician assistant," and "PA" are synonymous, and all 
2.1 	rights and responsibilities of a physician assistant in Minnesota Statutes must continue 
2.2 	uninterrupted and unchanged.
2.3 	(b) The title change to "physician associate" under paragraph (a) does not expand the 
2.4 	scope of practice for a professional licensed under this chapter.
2.5 	(c) All persons or entities employing, coordinating treatment with, following orders 
2.6 	from, training, educating, or contracting with an individual licensed as a physician associate 
2.7 	under this chapter or educating an individual enrolled in an accredited physician assistant 
2.8 	or physician associate educational program shall continue this relationship without 
2.9 	interruption or alteration as a result of the title change under paragraph (a). No person or 
2.10 	entity shall discriminate against any individual in contract, employment, or otherwise solely 
2.11 	as a result of an individual's change of title described in paragraph (a). This paragraph applies 
2.12 	to persons and entities that include but are not limited to:
2.13 	(1) hospitals or other health care facilities;
2.14 	(2) physicians;
2.15 	(3) malpractice insurance carriers;
2.16 	(4) the federal government; and
2.17 	(5) third-party payors, including but not limited to commercial insurers, health 
2.18 	maintenance organizations, and the Minnesota medical assistance program.

2.19 	Sec. 4. DIRECTION TO COMMISSIONERS AND BOARDS.
 2.20 	The commissioners of health and human services, and health-related licensing boards, 
2.21 	as defined in Minnesota Statutes, section 214.01, subdivision 2, if applicable, must, as soon 
2.22 	as practicable in the normal course of business, make conforming amendments to active 
2.23 	versions of commissioner or board guidance, documents, and forms within their jurisdiction 
2.24 	reflecting the change of title described in Minnesota Statutes, section 147A.03, subdivision 
2.25 	5. The commissioners and boards may take all further action necessary to reflect the change 
2.26 	of title described in Minnesota Statutes, section 147A.03, subdivision 5.

2.27 	Sec. 5. REVISOR INSTRUCTION.
 2.28 	The revisor of statutes shall change the term "physician assistant" and applicable variants 
2.29 	to "physician associate" and applicable variants wherever the term appears in Minnesota 
2.30 	Statutes and Minnesota Rules. The revisor may make grammatical and conforming changes 
2.31 	related to the term change.