Lawmakers in Michigan's House are reintroducing legislation that would give physician assistants more power, NPR affiliate Michigan Radio reported Oct. 5.
The legislation would change physician assistants' titles to physician associate, give them power to supervise medical assistants, and count them as mental health professionals, according to the report.
The bill package would enter Michigan in a multistate compact to recognize licenses from out of state.
"Since we know patients deserve the highest quality of care from professionals who are trained to provide it, we're here trying to address this gap," Representative Carrie Rheingans said in a press conference. "Sometimes outdated laws on the books get in the way of people trying to provide that care and address our mental health crisis right now in our state."
The legislation has passed the state's Senate unanimously.