Bill Name: House Bill 2702 (HB 2702) 

Primary Sponsor: House Health and Human Services Committee

Status: 02/26/2025 Passed House, Referred to Senate Committee on Public Health and Welfare

AmSpa’s Take: Allowing PAs to practice to the level of their education and skill, with reduced chart review and meeting requirements, frees up time and resources that can be better spent seeing patients, improving their skills and developing their practices. 

Analysis: Currently, Kansas physician assistants (PAs) practice according to a written supervision agreement with a physician. This agreement also authorizes their ability to prescribe medications. A supervision agreement must be maintained throughout the PA’s career. Under HB 2702, PAs would shift to a collaborative model, once they met certain requirements. 

Under HB 2702, a PA who completes 4,000 hours of post graduate clinical experience under supervision and has not had any disciplinary actions with a physician can apply to work under collaborative practice. Collaboration in this case means consulting and referring to appropriate members of the healthcare team and doesn’t require the physical presence of a physician. Under collaboration, the PA would now work under a practice agreement with a collaborating physician. While this is not a type of independent practice offered in other states, it does have reduced oversight requirements allowing more autonomy. 

The majority of states allow nurse practitioners to practice independently. More recently, many states have been giving more freedom and autonomy to PAs ranging from reduced oversight requirements all the way to full independence. HB 2702 would be a move in that direction but is definitely lagging behind the pack. If you would like additional information, to read the language of the bill or to contact the sponsors or committee, you can find the information you need through this link: HB 2702.