2015 Code of Virginia
Title 54.1 - Professions and Occupations
§ 54.1-2952.1. Prescription of certain controlled substances and devices by licensed physician assistants

A. In accordance with the provisions of this section and pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 33 (§ 54.1-3300 et seq.) of this title, a licensed physician assistant shall have the authority to prescribe controlled substances and devices as set forth in Chapter 34 (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) of this title as follows: (i) Schedules V and VI controlled substances on and after July 1, 2001, (ii) Schedules IV through VI controlled substances on and after January 1, 2003, (iii) Schedule III through VI controlled substances on and after July 1, 2004, and (iv) Schedules II through VI controlled substances on and after July 1, 2007.

A licensed physician assistant shall have such prescriptive authority upon the provision to the Board of Medicine of such evidence as it may require that the assistant has entered into and is, at the time of writing a prescription, a party to a written agreement with a licensed physician or podiatrist which provides for the direction and supervision by such licensee of the prescriptive practices of the assistant. Such written agreements shall include the controlled substances the physician assistant is or is not authorized to prescribe and may restrict such prescriptive authority as deemed appropriate by the physician or podiatrist providing direction and supervision.

B. It shall be unlawful for the assistant to prescribe controlled substances or devices pursuant to this section unless such prescription is authorized by the written agreement between the licensee and the assistant.

C. The Board of Medicine, in consultation with the Board of Pharmacy, shall promulgate such regulations governing the prescriptive authority of physician assistants as are deemed reasonable and necessary to ensure an appropriate standard of care for patients.

The regulations promulgated pursuant to this section shall include, at a minimum, (i) such requirements as may be necessary to ensure continued physician assistant competency that may include continuing education, testing, and/or any other requirement, and shall address the need to promote ethical practice, an appropriate standard of care, patient safety, the use of new pharmaceuticals, and appropriate communication with patients; (ii) requirements for periodic site visits by supervising licensees who supervise and direct assistants who provide services at a location other than where the licensee regularly practices; and (iii) a requirement that the assistant disclose to his patients the name, address and telephone number of the supervising licensee and that he is a physician assistant. A separate office for the assistant shall not be established.

D. This section shall not prohibit a licensed physician assistant from administering controlled substances in compliance with the definition of "administer" in § 54.1-3401 or from receiving and dispensing manufacturers' professional samples of controlled substances in compliance with the provisions of this section.

1992, c. 793; 1997, c. 806; 1999, c. 745; 2001, c. 465; 2003, c. 510; 2007, c. 16.