Legislative Updates

Representing PAs before the Missouri Legislature and the Board of Healing Arts is an important part of MOAPA’s mission.  MOAPA works hard to improve the laws and regulations that govern the practice of PAs and to provide PAs' input on a range of other health care legislation.  

Update: March 2025

PA Day at the Capital was a great success! 

Thank you to all who attended and supported the event. We hope to make this an annual event, so we hope you can join us next year!

Examples of legislation that MOAPA has successfully changed for Missouri PAs: 

• Eliminated the 4 hours per 14 working days requirement for onsite direct supervision. 
  
• Removed the 30-day direct supervision requirement for new collaborative practice arrangements - and won a lawsuit defending this change as of January 2025

For the past several years, MOAPA has worked to change Missouri's laws on physician collaboration with PAs.  We seek laws that ensure appropriate use and scope of PAs and giving Physician/PA teams the flexibility they require to meet patient needs. 

We are also excited to share that MOAPA won its lawsuit against the Board of Healing Arts in regards to direct supervision onboarding requirements. Now, per statute, direct supervision timelines can be determined at the practice level for new collaborative arrangements.

Prior wins with MOAPA: 

• Clarify that primary and alternate collaborating physicians can fulfill chart review requirements
• Remove the requirement for 4 hrs per 14 working days of direct supervision
• Grant PAs the authority to pronounce death and certify a death ( sign a death certificate) from natural cause.
  
• Allow PAs the authority to prescribe hydrocodone
• Recognize PAs as MO Medicaid providers