It's time for Okla. Legislature to recognize valuable contributions of physician assistants
In 2018, the state of Illinois granted Nurse Practitioners (NPs) the right to practice independently. While this marked a victory for NPs, it exposed a glaring disparity in the treatment of Physician Assistants (PAs) within the state's health care system. All this, despite PAs' far more extensive education and clinical experience.
As a PA with over a decade of experience, I experienced firsthand the devastating consequences of this disparity, which not only jeopardized my livelihood but also undermined patient access to quality care. With a bill pending on Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk that solely addresses independent practice for NPs and not PAs, Oklahoma is poised to follow Illinois should he opt to sign it and the Legislature fail to take action.
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At the time of the Illinois policy change, I was working in a family medicine group alongside four physicians and three NPs, with myself being the sole PA. Despite my extensive clinical experience and training, my NP colleagues were granted independent provider status while I remained tethered to physician supervision. The resulting disparity in treatment was starkly evident, highlighting the unequal playing field that PAs face in Illinois.
As the only PA in the group, I found myself in a precarious position. While my NP counterparts were assigned their own patient panels and treated with respect and autonomy, I was left dependent on a single physician for supervision as the other physicians in the group refused to take on the liability of supervising a PA. This dependency became even more alarming when my supervising physician faced a serious health crisis, leaving me in a vulnerable position with no other physicians willing to take on what had become a perceived supervisory liability.
The consequences of this disparity extended beyond my personal experiences. The reluctance of physicians to supervise PAs, coupled with the newfound independence of NPs, led to a significant decrease in job opportunities for PAs within my city and across the state. Even when positions were available, PAs faced discrimination in hiring practices, with many employers opting to hire NPs instead.
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This systemic bias against PAs not only drove experienced professionals like myself out of Illinois but also resulted in a decrease in patient access to quality health care providers. In my city with two hospitals, the hiring of PAs dwindled, further exacerbating the shortage of health care professionals and diminishing patient care options. Because Illinois exported our profession, I welcomed the opportunity to practice in Oklahoma. While it’s alarming to see our state follow the lead of less business-friendly states like Illinois, there is still time for the Oklahoma Legislature to chart a path that retains providers and serves Oklahoma patients the high-quality care they deserve.
Legislative reforms are urgently needed this session to grant Oklahoma PAs full practice authority, empowering them to work autonomously and ensuring continuity of care for patients. There is still time for the Legislature to level the playing field and recognize the valuable contributions of PAs in delivering high-quality health care to all residents of Oklahoma. The well-being of both health care professionals and patients depends on it.
Nicole Mason has a Doctor of Medical Science degree and is a certified Physician Assistant with specialty certification in psychiatry.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma needs to recognize value of PAs, grant full practice authority
