Massachusetts

● Priority Issue: Limited Scope Licensure – progressing through regulatory path.

● Update(s): Draft regulations are currently in development. Following guidance from officials, the path forward is focused on regulatory, rather than legislative, changes. NERUCA submitted a supporting memo and will continue to monitor developments closely.

● Key Regulation: 105 CMR 125.00

Massachusetts Gives PAs, Residents Practice Flexibility

Under orders from Gov. Charlie Baker, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Jan. 14 released several emergency orders to ease strain on the state’s healthcare system, including allowing qualified physician assistants to practice independently.
“The healthcare system has been facing a critical staffing shortage, which has contributed to the loss of approximately 700 medical/surgical and [intensive care unit] hospital beds since the beginning of 2021,” the health department said in a statement. “Hospitals are also seeing many more patients than usual, the majority due to non-COVID-19-related reasons.” Read More>