FORTY-EIGHTH LEGISLATURE

FIRST SESSION, 2007

March 15, 2007

Mr. Speaker:

    Your BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY COMMITTEE, to whom has been referred

SENATE PUBLIC AFFAIRS COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

FOR SENATE BILL 20

has had it under consideration and reports same with recommendation that it DO PASS, amended as follows:

     1. On page 1, line 12, after "THE", insert "LICENSED PHYSICIAN AND".

     2. On page 1, line 13, after "THE", insert "PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT ACT AND THE".

     3. On page 1, between lines 15 and 16, insert the following new section:

     "Section 1. Section 61-6-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1973, Chapter 361, Section 6, as amended) is amended to read:

     "61-6-10. SUPERVISING LICENSED PHYSICIAN--RESPONSIBILITY.--

          A. As a condition of licensure, all physician assistants practicing in New Mexico shall inform the board of the name of the licensed physician under whose supervision they will practice. All supervising physicians shall be licensed under the Medical Practice Act and shall be approved by the board.

          B. Every licensed physician supervising a licensed physician assistant shall be individually responsible and liable for the performance of the acts and omissions delegated to the physician assistant. Nothing in this section shall be construed to relieve the physician assistant of responsibility and liability for the acts and omissions of the physician assistant.

          [C. A licensed physician shall not supervise more than two physician assistants; except, where a physician is working in a health facility providing health service to the public primarily on a free or reduced fee basis, that is funded in whole or in part out of public funds or the funds of private charitable institutions or for good cause shown, the board may authorize a greater number upon a finding that the program provides adequate supervision of the physician assistants.]

          C. A physician assistant shall be supervised by a physician as approved by the board."".

     4. Renumber the succeeding section accordingly.