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147A.01 Definitions.

Subdivision 1. Scope. For the purpose of this chapter the terms defined in this section have the meanings given them.

Subd. 2. Active status. "Active status" means the status of a person who has met all the qualifications of a physician assistant, has a physician-physician assistant agreement in force, and is registered.

Subd. 3. Administer. "Administer" means the delivery by a physician assistant authorized to prescribe legend drugs, a single dose of a legend drug, including controlled substances, to a patient by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or by any other immediate means, and the delivery by a physician assistant ordered by a physician a single dose of a legend drug by injection, inhalation, ingestion, or by any other immediate means.

Subd. 4. Agreement. "Agreement" means the document described in section 147A.20.

Subd. 5. Alternate supervising physician. "Alternate supervising physician" means a Minnesota licensed physician listed in the physician-physician assistant agreement who is responsible for supervising the physician assistant when the main supervising physician is unavailable. The alternate supervising physician shall accept full medical responsibility for the performance, practice, and activities of the physician assistant while under the supervision of the alternate supervising physician.

Subd. 6. Board. "Board" means the Board of Medical Practice or its designee.

Subd. 7. Controlled substances. "Controlled substances" has the meaning given it in section 152.01, subdivision 4.

Subd. 8. Delegation form. "Delegation form" means the form used to indicate the categories of drugs for which the authority to prescribe, administer, and dispense has been delegated to the physician assistant and signed by the supervising physician, any alternate supervising physicians, and the physician assistant. This form is part of the agreement described in section 147A.20, and shall be maintained by the supervising physician and physician assistant at the address of record. Copies shall be provided to the board upon request. "Addendum to the delegation form" means a separate listing of the schedules and categories of controlled substances, if any, for which the physician assistant has been delegated the authority to prescribe, administer, and dispense. The addendum shall be maintained as a separate document as described above.

Subd. 9. Diagnostic order. "Diagnostic order" means a directive to perform a procedure or test, the purpose of which is to determine the cause and nature of a pathological condition or disease.

Subd. 10. Drug. "Drug" has the meaning given it in section 151.01, subdivision 5, including controlled substances as defined in section 152.01, subdivision 4.

Subd. 11. Drug category. "Drug category" means one of the categories listed on the delegation form.

Subd. 12. Inactive status. "Inactive status" means the status of a person who has met all the qualifications of a physician assistant, and is registered, but does not have a physician-physician assistant agreement in force.

Subd. 13. Internal protocol. "Internal protocol" means a document written by the supervising physician and the physician assistant which specifies the policies and procedures which will apply to the physician assistant's prescribing, administering, and dispensing of legend drugs and medical devices, including controlled substances as defined in section 152.01, subdivision 4, and lists the specific categories of drugs and medical devices, with any exceptions or conditions, that the physician assistant is authorized to prescribe, administer, and dispense. The supervising physician and physician assistant shall maintain the protocol at the address of record. Copies shall be provided to the board upon request.

Subd. 14. Legend drug. "Legend drug" has the meaning given it in section 151.01, subdivision 17.

Subd. 15. Locum tenens permit. "Locum tenens permit" means time specific temporary permission for a physician assistant to practice as a physician assistant in a setting other than the practice setting established in the physician-physician assistant agreement.

Subd. 16. Medical device. "Medical device" means durable medical equipment and assistive or rehabilitative appliances, objects, or products that are required to implement the overall plan of care for the patient and that are restricted by federal law to use upon prescription by a licensed practitioner.

Subd. 17. Physician. "Physician" means a person currently licensed in good standing as a physician or osteopath under chapter 147.

Subd. 18. Physician assistant or registered physician assistant. "Physician assistant" or "registered physician assistant" means a person registered pursuant to this chapter who is qualified by academic or practical training or both to provide patient services as specified in this chapter, under the supervision of a supervising physician.

Subd. 19. Practice setting description. "Practice setting description" means a signed record submitted to the board on forms provided by the board, on which:

(1) the supervising physician assumes full medical responsibility for the medical care rendered by a physician assistant;

(2) is recorded the address and phone number of record of each supervising physician and alternate, and the physicians' medical license numbers and DEA number;

(3) is recorded the address and phone number of record of the physician assistant and the physician assistant's registration number and DEA number;

(4) is recorded whether the physician assistant has been delegated prescribing, administering, and dispensing authority;

(5) is recorded the practice setting, address or addresses and phone number or numbers of the physician assistant; and

(6) is recorded a statement of the type, amount, and frequency of supervision.

Subd. 20. Prescribe. "Prescribe" means to direct, order, or designate by means of a prescription the preparation, use of, or manner of using a drug or medical device.

Subd. 21. Prescription. "Prescription" means a signed written order, or an oral order reduced to writing, given by a physician assistant authorized to prescribe drugs for patients in the course of the physician assistant's practice, issued for an individual patient and containing the information required in the delegation form.

Subd. 22. Registration. "Registration" is the process by which the board determines that an applicant has been found to meet the standards and qualifications found in this chapter.

Subd. 23. Supervising physician. "Supervising physician" means a Minnesota licensed physician who accepts full medical responsibility for the performance, practice, and activities of a physician assistant under an agreement as described in section 147A.20. A supervising physician shall not supervise more than two full-time equivalent physician assistants simultaneously.

Subd. 24. Supervision. "Supervision" means overseeing the activities of, and accepting responsibility for, the medical services rendered by a physician assistant. The constant physical presence of the supervising physician is not required so long as the supervising physician and physician assistant are or can be easily in contact with one another by radio, telephone, or other telecommunication device. The scope and nature of the supervision shall be defined by the individual physician-physician assistant agreement.

Subd. 25. Temporary registration. "Temporary registration" means the status of a person who has satisfied the education requirement specified in this chapter; is enrolled in the next examination required in this chapter; or is awaiting examination results; has a physician-physician assistant agreement in force as required by this chapter, and has submitted a practice setting description to the board. Such provisional registration shall expire 90 days after completion of the next examination sequence, or after one year, whichever is sooner, for those enrolled in the next examination; and upon receipt of the examination results for those awaiting examination results. The registration shall be granted by the board or its designee.

Subd. 26. Therapeutic order. "Therapeutic order" means an order given to another for the purpose of treating or curing a patient in the course of a physician assistant's practice. Therapeutic orders may be written or verbal, but do not include the prescribing of legend drugs or medical devices unless prescribing authority has been delegated within the physician-physician assistant agreement.

Subd. 27. Verbal order. "Verbal order" means an oral order given to another for the purpose of treating or curing a patient in the course of a physician assistant's practice. Verbal orders do not include the prescribing of legend drugs unless prescribing authority has been delegated within the physician-physician assistant agreement.

HIST: 1995 c 205 art 1 s 1; 2003 c 2 art 1 s 18,19

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Revisor of Statutes