Current through February 26, 2024
If a physician assistant's collaborating physician under s. PA 3.01 (2) is
unable to collaborate as specified in that section due to an interruption in licensed practice, a leave of
absence of 30 days or longer such that the physician is unreachable, change in employment, change in license
or privileges, or death, then the following requirements apply:
(1)
When the interruption is temporary, and an alternate has not been identified in the current agreement, or is
otherwise not available, a new alternate physician may provide temporary collaboration to the physician
assistant. An interim collaborative agreement shall be documented within and maintained at the site of
practice in accordance with s. PA 3.01 (2).
(2) If the
collaborating physician will be unavailable for more than 90 business days due to an interruption in
licensure or privileges, employment, extended leave of absence or death, the physician assistant shall secure
a new collaborating physician and document the agreement in accordance with s. PA 3.01 (2).
(3) If no physician is available to collaborate with the physician
assistant, then either of the following apply:
(a) A physician assistant
possessing at least 2,080 hours of practice experience in the same specialty or concentration shall notify
the board within 3 business days of the collaborating physician's absence and attest to active search for
replacement. The physician assistant may continue to practice under the current terms of the physician
assistant's collaboration agreement without physician collaboration for up to 120 business days, at which
time the physician assistant may petition the board to extend practice under the same terms. The board shall
consider the practice setting, experience, and qualifications of the physician assistant, and potential
availability of collaborating physicians when reviewing requests to extend practice under this paragraph;
or
(b) A physician assistant possessing less than 2,080 hours of
practice experience in the same specialty or concentration shall enter into a written interim collaborative
agreement with a physician assistant possessing at least 10,000 hours of practice experience in the same
specialty or concentration; and shall notify the board within 3 business days of the collaborating
physician's absence, provide a copy of the interim written collaborative agreement and, attest to active
search for replacement of the collaborating physician. The physician assistant may continue to practice under
the current terms of the physician assistant's interim collaboration agreement with physician assistant
collaboration for up to 120 business days, at which time the physician assistant may petition the board to
extend practice under the same terms. The board shall consider the practice setting, experience, and
qualifications of the physician assistant, the collaborating physician assistant and potential availability
of collaborating physicians when reviewing requests to extend practice under this paragraph. This interim
collaborative agreement may not exceed 270 consecutive days.
(4) The board may audit and review the practice of a physician assistant
temporarily practicing without a collaborating physician under sub. (3) at any time during or after the
collaborating physician's absence.
