KansasHB 27022025–2026 Regular SessionHouseWALLET

Providing that applicants for a physician assistant license submit to a criminal record check, providing for the collaboration between physicians and physician assistants and requiring the revocation of a physician assistant license under certain circumstances.

Sponsored By: Committee on Health and Human Services

Signed by Governor

senate committee on public health and welfarehouse committee on health and human services

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

10 provisions identified: 6 benefits, 2 costs, 2 mixed.

Assistant students can provide supervised care

Beginning January 1, 2027, qualifying physician assistant students can provide care without a separate physician assistant license. Students must attend a program accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant or its successor. The exemption covers care provided under an approved instructor's supervision.

Military experience can support assistant licenses

Beginning January 1, 2027, the Kansas board can waive the specified education requirement for some physician assistant applicants. Applicants must have passed the national certifying exam before 1986. They must also prove U.S. armed forces experience that meets the board's minimum experience requirements. Approval remains the board's decision.

Assistants can continue after losing collaborators

Beginning January 1, 2027, an assistant with a written practice agreement can seek approval to continue after a collaborating physician becomes unavailable. The state board can approve up to 180 days and one extension of up to 180 more days. The assistant must have no listed disciplinary action. Patients whose needs exceed the assistant's training or experience must be referred for needed care.

Physician assistants can provide broader care

Beginning January 1, 2027, Kansas physician assistants can provide care within their education, training, experience, and skills. This includes exams, diagnosis, treatment, tests, medical orders, informed consent, signing medical documents, and pronouncing death. They can also certify health or disability for local, state, or federal programs within their allowed scope. Assistants remain responsible for their work, and existing legal limits on services and optometry still apply.

Physician assistants gain broader prescribing authority

Beginning January 1, 2027, physician assistants can prescribe durable medical equipment and prescribe, obtain, or administer medicines. This includes prescription-only drugs and controlled drugs in Schedules II through V. Controlled-drug prescribing requires federal Drug Enforcement Administration registration, compliance with state and federal law, and prescriptions listing the assistant's name, address, and phone number. Assistants can dispense drugs when pharmacy services are not reasonably available, dispensing serves the patient's best interests, or an emergency occurs. Dispensing must follow state and federal rules.

Federal assistants retain work duty exemption

Beginning January 1, 2027, physician assistants employed by the federal government are exempt from this law during federal duties. The exemption covers only work performed for that federal employment. It does not cover their other work.

Physician assistants face checks and fees

Beginning January 1, 2027, the Kansas board can require fingerprints and state and national criminal history checks. This authority covers original physician assistant license applicants, reinstatement applicants, and license or certificate holders under investigation. The Kansas Bureau of Investigation can provide adult conviction and non-conviction information for these purposes. The board can charge only enough to reimburse fingerprinting and check costs.

Convictions can end physician assistant licenses

Beginning January 1, 2027, the board must revoke assistant licenses for qualifying convictions dated July 1, 2000, or later. These include felonies, substantially similar offenses elsewhere, and general court-martial convictions; felony or general court-martial convictions also require denial of original or reinstatement applications. An exception requires two-thirds of members present and voting to find clear and convincing evidence of rehabilitation and no public threat. Discipline also covers deception in obtaining a license and violations of applicable healthcare laws, regulations, or board agreements. Revised conviction rules replace the separate felony ground and the former express ground of professional incompetence.

New licensing rules for physician assistants

Beginning January 1, 2027, applicants generally need accredited education, the national certifying exam, board forms, required information, and fees. Programs completed before 2001 can qualify through specified earlier accrediting bodies, and the board can approve applicants after reviewing prior practice-related discipline. An active-license application no longer needs the responsible physician's signature; separate practice-agreement requirements still apply. Qualified people without a current license can use “PA,” “physician assistant,” or “physician associate,” but cannot practice. Licensed assistants must use one of those titles during work requiring the license.

Physician assistants gain collaboration with safeguards

Beginning January 1, 2027, assistants with at least 4,000 postgraduate clinical hours and no listed disciplinary action can practice through physician collaboration. Those below 4,000 hours need physician supervision. Collaboration means consultation or referral based on patient needs and assistant skills; constant physician presence is not required when ready communication is available. Written agreements must stay current, remain at the practice site, and be available to the board. Before care begins, agreements must reach the board with each supervising physician's name, address, and signature; both parties must report termination. Overseeing physicians must actively practice in Kansas, oversee only lawful work within their skills and specialty, and arrange qualified substitutes during temporary absences.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Committee on Health and Human Services
Affiliation unavailable

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 320 • No: 4

House vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 120 Nay: 2

Yes: 120 • No: 2

House vote • 4/23/2026

Yea: 40 Nay: 0

Yes: 40 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/18/2026

Final Action - Passed