Collaborative Practice & Physician Liability

HB-4352, Beckley

The State of Texas defines a PA’s relationship with a specific physician in a supervisory role. This also makes the physician liable for all the care the PA provides, even if the physician is not directly involved with the patient. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Abbott relaxed several statutes that helped facilitate a more flexible relationship between a physician and a PA, which helped to improve access to care for Texas patients without any detriment to their health. TAPA seeks to revise state law to reflect the actual day-to-day workings of the PA-physician team and how they take care of patients; and remove the liability of a physician working with a PA if they did not help directly care for a patient. Simply put, PAs are practicing in a collaborative manner with physicians in a team-based approach to patient care. This is in line with AAPA’s policy of Optimal Team Practice.”