SB 285 - VERSION ADOPTED BY BOTH BODIES
03/27/2025 1374s
1May2025... 1623h
2025 SESSION
25-1075
09/05
SENATE BILL 285
AN ACT relative to changing the term "physician assistant" to "physician associate."
SPONSORS: Sen. Rochefort, Dist 1; Sen. Long, Dist 20; Sen. Pearl, Dist 17; Sen. Murphy, Dist 16; Sen. Birdsell, Dist 19; Rep. Schmidt, Straf. 14; Rep. Edwards, Rock. 31; Rep. Layon, Rock. 13
COMMITTEE: Executive Departments and Administration
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ANALYSIS
This bill updates the laws to reflect the title change of "physician assistant" to "physician associate" but makes clear that no substantive change to any law is being made by this update.
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Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.
Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]
Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.
03/27/2025 1374s
1May2025... 1623h 25-1075
09/05
STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand Twenty Five
AN ACT relative to changing the term "physician assistant" to "physician associate."
Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:
1 Title Change; Physician Associate. Amend the following RSAs by replacing "physician assistant" with "physician associate": 5-C:1, III; 5-C:1, V; 5-C:1, XXIX-a, 5-C:62, I; 5-C:62, II(e); 5-C:62, III(c); 5-C:62, III(e); 5-C:62, IV(d); the introductory paragraph of 5-C:62, V; 5-C:62, V(a); 5-C:62, VI; 5-C:63, I; 5-C:63, IV and V; 5-C:63, VIII; 5-C:64, II and III; 5-C:64, IV(a) through (c); 5-C:64, VI and VII; 5-C:64, XI through XV; 5-C:66, I and II; 5-C:74, I; 5-C:80, III and IV; 5-C:81, II; 5-C:94, II through IV; 5-C:96, I(b); 126-AA:2, III(d)(1) and (3); 126-A:3, III-a(a); 126-A:89, VIII; the introductory paragraph of 126-A:101, I; 126-X:1, VII(a)(3) and (4); the introductory paragraph of 135:21-b; 135:21-b, I; 135-C:2, XII-a; 135-C:36, I(c); 135-C:36, II; 137-J:2, V; 137-J:2, XXI; 137-J:33; 137-L:2, VI and VII; 141-G:2, I; 141-G:8, VIII; 141-G:10, III(a); 141-G:13, I through III; 141-G:19, II(i); 151:12-c, I; 153-A:11, II; the section heading of 153-A:16; 153-A:16, I and II; 167:83, II(q); 170-E:58; 200:32; 200:40-b, I(a)(3); 200-N:1, III(b); 261:88, I(c); 261:88, III; 261:88, V and VI; 290:1; 290:1-a; 313-A:31, II; 318:1, XII-a; 318:42, VII(a) and (c); the introductory paragraph of RSA 318:42, VIII; 318:47-m, I; 318:47-m, III; 318:47-m, VII; the introductory paragraph of RSA 318:52-a; 318:52-c, I; 326-E:1, VII; 326-E:1, X; the introductory paragraph of 326-E:8, I; 328-D:1, I; 328-D:1, II-c; 328-D:1, III; 328-D:2, I through III; the introductory paragraph of 328-D:3, I; 323-D:3-b, I(a) and (b); 328-D:3-b, II(c) and (d); 328-D:3-b, IV; 328-D:3-b, XIII; 328-D:3-b, XVII through XIX; 328-D:10, I(j); 328-D:12; 328-D:14; 328-D:15, I through III; 328-D:16, I and II; 328-D:17, I through III; 329:1-c; 329:1-d, III; the introductory paragraph of 329:1-g; 329:13-b, I; 329:13-b, IV(a); 329:13-b, VI; 332-I:1, II(b); 332-L:2, I; the introductory paragraph of 415:18-a, III(a); 415:18-a, IV(b)(9); 415:18-a, V(j); and 464-A:25; I(a)(2) and (6).
2 Title Change; Physician Associates. Amend the following RSAs by replacing "physician assistants" with "physician associates": 137-J:2, V; 141-F:2, IV-b; 153-A:20, XII; 167:4-d, III(f)(1); 294-A:1, VI; 304-A:2, IX; 310:7, VI; 313-A:25, I; 318:8-a; 318:42, II; 318-B:41, I(a)(1); the chapter heading for 328-D; 328-D:2-a, I through III; 328-D:3, I(a); 328-D:3-b, I(a); the introductory paragraph of 328-D:3-b, VII; 328-D:3-b, VIII through XIII; 328-D:3-b, XV through XVII; 328-D:3-b, XIX and XX; 328-D:17, I; 328-D:18; 329:2, I; 329:3; 329:9; XIV; 329:13-b, V(a); 329:21, XIII; 415:18-a, I(a)(9); 415:18-a, III(a)(9); 415-J:3, XII(a); and 516:29-c, VI(a).
3 Title Change; Physician Associate's. Amend the following RSAs by replacing "physician assistant's" with "physician associate's": the introductory paragraph of 5-C:64, IV; 5-C:64, VI; 5-C:64, XI; 5-C:94, V; the introductory paragraph of 135:21-b; 328-D:1, II-a; 328-D:3-b, I(b); 328-D:3-b, II(a) and (b); 328-D:3-b, XX; 328-D:15, I; and 329:13-b, VI.
4 Title Change; Physician Associates'. Amend the following RSA by replacing "physician assistants'" with "physician associates'": 318:14.
5 Title Change; Physician Associate. Amend the following RSAs by replacing "physician's assistant" with "physician associate": 106-L:6, VII; 214:20-l; 265-A:5, I; the introductory paragraph of 265-A:16; 328-G:9, II(e)(1); 507-C:1, II; 507-E:1, II; 508:18, I; and 623:1, I.
6 Title Change; Physician Associates'. Amend the following RSA by replacing "physician's assistants" with "physician associates'": the introductory paragraph of 326-D:2, V.
7 Title Change; January 1, 2027. Amend the following RSA by replacing "physician assistant" with "physician associate": 328-D:3-b, I.
8 Title Change; January 1, 2027. Amend the following RSA by replacing "physician assistants" with "physician associates": 328-D:3-b, I.
9 Physician Associate; Rulemaking. Amend RSA 328-D:10, I(m) to read as follows:
(m) Continuing medical education ("CME") requirements for those physician [assistants] associates that have received their National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants ("NCCPA") certification, but have chosen not to maintain their certification.
10 New Section; Physician Associates; Applicability of Name Change. Amend RSA 328:D by inserting after section 18 the following new section:
328-D:19 Effect of Name Change From Physician Assistant to Physician Associate.
I. As of the effective date of this section, the title of "physician assistant" in New Hampshire is changed to "physician associate." This change is not intended to change any rights or privileges of those who have been or continue to hold themselves out to be a "physician assistant" and anywhere in the law that says, "physician associate" shall also mean "physician assistant."
II. This name change shall not alter, affect, or impact any billing, reimbursement, or payment policies currently in place for physician assistants. All billing practices, insurance reimbursement policies, and agreements that apply to physician assistants shall continue to apply in the same manner to physician associates. No insurer shall deny reimbursement for services rendered by a physician associate solely as a result of this name change.
III. No regulatory changes shall be made solely as a result of this name change that would modify the scope of practice or any other professional obligations currently applicable to physician assistants.
11 Physician Associates; Penalty. Amend RSA 328-D:13 to read as follows:
328-D:13 Penalty.
I. Any person who, not being licensed or otherwise authorized according to the law of this state, shall advertise oneself or hold oneself out as a physician assistant, physician associate, or PA, or any person who does such act after receiving notice that such person's license has been revoked, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
II. Any person who shall practice or attempt to practice as a physician assistant, physician associate, or PA in this state without a license shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor if a natural person or guilty of a felony if any other person.
I. Sections 7 and 8 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
II. The remainder of this act shall take effect upon its passage.
| Date | Amendment |
|---|---|
| March 25, 2025 | 2025-1374s |
| April 21, 2025 | 2025-1623h |
| Date | Body | Type |
|---|---|---|
| March 5, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| March 19, 2025 | Senate | Hearing |
| April 16, 2025 | House | Hearing |
| April 16, 2025 | House | Exec Session |
| April 17, 2025 | House | Floor Vote |
May 8, 2025: Sen. Pearl Moved to Concur with the House Amendment, MA, VV; 05/08/2025; SJ 12
May 1, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment 2025-1623h: MA VV 05/01/2025 HJ 13
May 1, 2025: Amendment # 2025-1623h: AA VV 05/01/2025 HJ 13
April 21, 2025: Committee Report: Ought to Pass with Amendment # 2025-1623h 04/17/2025 (Vote 15-0; CC) HC 22 P. 9
April 21, 2025: Executive Session: 04/16/2025 01:45 pm LOB 306-308
April 8, 2025: Public Hearing: 04/16/2025 01:45 pm LOB 306-308
March 28, 2025: Introduced (in recess of) 03/27/2025 and referred to Executive Departments and Administration HJ 11 P. 113
March 27, 2025: Ought to Pass with Amendment #2025-1374s, MA, VV; OT3rdg; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
March 27, 2025: Sen. McGough Floor Amendment # 2025-1374s, AA, VV; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
March 27, 2025: Sen. McGough Moved Ought to Pass; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
March 27, 2025: Rereferred to Committee, MF, VV; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
March 27, 2025: SB 285 was Removed from the Consent Calendar; 03/27/2025; SJ 9
March 19, 2025: Committee Report: Rereferred to Committee, 03/27/2025, Vote 4-1, CC SC 14
March 5, 2025: Hearing: 03/19/2025, Room 103, SH, 09:00 am; SC 12
Feb. 20, 2025: Hearing: 03/05/2025, Room 103, SH, 10:00 am; SC 11
Jan. 24, 2025: Introduced 01/09/2025 and Referred to Executive Departments and Administration; SJ 3