During the last legislative session, Sen. Tom Davis introduced Senate Bill 533, which relates to the scope of practice for nurse practitioners and physician assistants. If passed, it would allow them to diagnose, treat, and prescribe without the supervision or collaboration of a physician.
Although the bill did not pass last session, Sen. Davis is expected to file the same or similar bill in the upcoming legislative session.
Data shows that nurse practitioners and physician assistants order more diagnostic images and prescribe more antibiotics and opioids than physicians do. This is often because physicians, with four years of medical school, three to seven years of residency, and 12,000 to 16,000 hours of clinical training, are more highly trained to recognize health issues and deal with them than nurse practitioners who complete two to three years of graduate-level education, no required residency, and only 500 to 720 hours of clinical training or physician assistants who complete two to two-and-half years of graduate-level education, no required residency, and only 2,000 hours of clinical training. Every healthcare professional has an important role to play, but eliminating physician-led healthcare in South Carolina increases healthcare costs and jeopardizes patient safety.
As physicians, we need to e-mail our legislators and make our position against eliminating physician-led healthcare in South Carolina, expanding the scope of practice known. You can do so by finding the contact information for your legislators at www.scstatehouse.gov/legislatorssearch.php.
You can also contact the SCMA to get involved in advocating for other solutions that will actually improve healthcare for South Carolinians.
REGULATORY CORNER
If we, as physicians, believe in physician-led healthcare, then we must fulfill our statutory duty to collaborate with and supervise nurse practitioners and physician assistants with whom we have agreements. By law, physicians who supervise or collaborate must have written agreements that specify allowable delegated medical acts, identify mechanisms that allow the physician to ensure the quality of clinical care and patient safety, and be readily available for consultation. Physicians can supervise up to the equivalent of six full-time nurse practitioners and physician assistants at any time, provided however that the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners may approve an exception to allow for the supervision of additional individuals. In 2023, approximately 50 complaints were filed against physicians for failure to properly supervise or for not having an agreement on file with the Board of Medical Examiners.
If you would like to verify healthcare professionals listed as supervisees under your medical license, visit the South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners website at www.llr.sc.gov, Professions and Occupations, Medical Examiners, and Licensee Lookup. Once on this screen, type in your name, and it will pull up this information. If you find anyone listed with whom you do not have a current Practice Agreement, please immediately notify the Board of Medical Examiners.
SCMedPAC
Traditionally, physicians are not politically active.
“We don’t have to the time to do what needs to be done to advocate for our profession,” said Dr. Fritz Butehorn, chair of SCMedPAC, the single largest political voice representing South Carolina physicians in the legislature.
However, laws passed by the state legislature can affect how physicians perform their duties and access and affordability of healthcare for our patients. SCMedPAC has long-standing relationships with politicians and officials throughout the state and can speak on behalf of physicians.
The SCMedPAC donates to physician-friendly candidates who run for office. Donating to the PAC is the best way to make an investment in your profession and to ensure that the voice of the physician is adequately represented at the Statehouse.
There are several opportunities for giving. For practices, there are several giving levels–Practice Gold – $3,500; Practice Silver – $2,500-$3,499; and Practice Sustainer – $1,750-$2,499. For individuals, there are also several giving levels–Physician Platinum – $1,500; Physician Gold – $1,000-$1,499; and Physician Silver – $500 – $999.
“We need to protect our profession, and doing so protects our patients,” Dr. Butehorn said. “The most efficient way to do that is to support SCMedPAC.”
Holly Pisarik
SCMA Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Policy Counsel
