jmj11 Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I (and my SP) just got a warning letter from the Washington Dept of Health that it is illegal for a PA to practice medicine without a supervisory agreement with a physician. I was puzzled so I call them. They informed me that they sent this warning to every PA in the state because a recent audit showed that 50% of PAs in the state were practicing without a supervisory agreement. It must be simply the PAs changed jobs and never did the paper work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acebecker Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I find that statistic hard to believe. Keep us posted on what else comes of this. Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted October 29, 2011 Administrator Share Posted October 29, 2011 ... and did DOH use WAPA as a resource to help get the word out? Hmm? Out of curiosity, did the osteopathic/allopathic dichotomy contribute to this? For those not in the know, in WA you can be licensed either medical board, but your "primary" SP of record must hold the degree (MD or DO) appropriate to the board which issued the license. No discounts for being licensed by both boards, either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LIPPER Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I (and my SP) just got a warning letter from the Washington Dept of Health that it is illegal for a PA to practice medicine without a supervisory agreement with a physician. I was puzzled so I call them. They informed me that they sent this warning to every PA in the state because a recent audit showed that 50% of PAs in the state were practicing without a supervisory agreement. It must be simply the PAs changed jobs and never did the paper work. That does seem like a large %.... Should generate a large number of fines for the state? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted October 29, 2011 Moderator Share Posted October 29, 2011 I have a WA license( and 3 physician sponsors) and did not get this letter... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmj11 Posted October 29, 2011 Author Share Posted October 29, 2011 I have a WA license( and 3 physician sponsors) and did not get this letter... Just wait. They told me Friday that it went to every PA in the state. I was a bit worried that it was a warning to me personally, like they had lost my agreement. Here is the last e-mail I got from them regarding the matter: The letter was sent to every MD and PA in the state, because a recent small audit. About half of the PA’s did not have a current practice plan with their supervisor. The plan must be sent in and approved and sent back before the PA can start to practice. The plan stays current unless they move locations, new primary doctor, or a big change in the practice arrangements. Ex Like a new specialty of the doctors. The was just a notice to put ALL MD’s and PA’s on notice. Joe Mihelich Customer Service Specialist II Medical Quality Assurance Commission PO BOX 47866 Olympia WA 98504 360-236-2771 360-236-2795 Fax Website: www.doh.wa.gov/hsqa/mqac Email: joe.mihelich@doh.wa.gov Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Contrarian Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 No worries Mike, We received the same letter from Joe.M Me and all 3 of my SPs (two jobs and My practice=3) got this letter... Easy fix... as I simply re-did all three practice plans, faxed them in and they were re-approved within 3 days. I believe the statistic because they still had listed SPsfor Me from 3 -4 jobs ago. The problem is that either the PA and/or the SP forgets/neglects to submit a simple letter notifying HPQA of a termination of practice agreements. So while they usually have a current Practice Plan for what the PA is currnetly doing, only 50% of the time do they have a letter of temination of a practice arrangement. Another issue is that the original "practice plans" submitted and approved several yrs ago by a PA and their SPs may not acurately reflect the practice arrangement today. For example.... at one job I had, the SP and I were seeing patient's in the same building/location 2-3 days/week. So this required a simple, normal, everyday practice plan. Then as the clinic expanded, and personnel got shifted around, I started seeing most of my patients at a remote location about 1 mile away from the main clinic where my SP sees her patients for the last 8 months. This required a "Remote Practice" practice plan be submitted for approval. We just submitted that plan last week. Thing is... in another 2 months... after the remodel on the main clinic is completed, I'll see most of my patients on sight at the main clinic... so I guess we will have to re-submit yet another practice plan reflecting this. So NO... half the PAs out here aren't practicing without "practice plans"... but half of the plans on file aren't current and haven't been updated. YMMV Contrarian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andersenpa Posted October 29, 2011 Share Posted October 29, 2011 I got the same letter, as did my SP and my fellow PAs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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