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Our government affairs committee has been hard at work advancing several legislative priorities this year. As you may be aware, the 2020 legislative session was shortened due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, and as a result several important legislative items were left on the table by the Kentucky General Assembly. Furthermore, COVID-19 restrictions in the capitol have made this year’s advocacy efforts more challenging, which resulted in KAPA having to postpone its traditional Lobby Day event. Fortunately, we are aided by our amazing lobbyists at Top Shelf Lobby who have helped us to navigate a tricky session and keep PA issues top of mind for legislators.

Early this morning the Kentucky Academy of Physician Assistants was notified by the Drug Enforcement Administration that the technical changes have been made to their website to allow Kentucky PAs to register for their DEA control number. While the delay was unfortunate the Louisville DEA field office has been extraordinarily helpful in getting this resolved.

Effective July 15th 2020 House Bill 135 takes effect in Kentucky, which would allow for prescriptive authority for Physician Assistants for Schedule III through V controlled substances provided that certain criteria is met beforehand. For more detailed information on how to complete your application for Prescriptive Authority visit our FAQ page.

The Kentucky Academy of Physician Assistants (KAPA) thanks Governor Beshear for swiftly signing a HB 135 into law, authorizing Kentucky PAs (physician assistants) to prescribe Schedule III-V controlled medications.

KAPA community members,

This letter comes from a few different places. It comes from KAPA elect president self-quarantining at home in preparation for her return to hospital medicine in a matter of hours. It comes from the president working extended hours as the solo provider in her clinic, fighting for viral testing kits and doing home visits in the after-hours. It comes from the vice president donning PPE as he provides critical care medicine for his patients in the ICU. It comes from the remainder of our board, who like you, are maintaining a leadership role as a healthcare provider in this unprecedented time of the COVID-19 virus.

The Kentucky Academy of Physician Assistants is proud to report that before legislators adjourned yesterday evening House Bill 135, Physician Assistant prescriptive authority, received final passage in the Kentucky General Assembly with overwhelming bipartisan support. The bill now heads to Governor Andy Beshear’s desk to be signed into law. HB135 was one of a handful of bills the legislature prioritized before adjourning temporarily due to the COVID-19 outbreak, underscoring it’s importance to the health and well-being of Kentucky.

This afternoon HB 135 was passed out of the Kentucky Senate by a vote of 32-0. Senator Julie Raque Adams (R-Louisville) spoke on the legislation on the floor of the Senate.

This morning HB 135 was heard in the Senate Licensing and Occupations committee. Rep. Steve Sheldon was joined by KAPA Vice President Andrew Rutherford PA-C as they presented the legislation in front of the Committee. Members of the committee acknowledged Kentucky’s last in the nation status with regards to Physician Assistant prescriptive authority, while expressing reservations about the impact of adding additional prescribers to the system.

Legislative Day for Kentucky PAs on 2/6/20 was an outstanding success. Over 150 PAs, educators, and students convened at the Rotunda in Frankfort on the cold dreary February morning, to gather materials and last-minute instructions before heading to meet our legislators. Most of those with whom I spoke were students, yet I saw several old friends and colleagues.

As you saw late last week House Bill 135, modified prescriptive authority, passed the Kentucky House of Representatives. We could not have done it without the hard work of PA advocates, like you, across the commonwealth. This bill has strong bipartisan support, having passed with a vote of 91-1, but we need to keep the momentum up as we await a hearing in the Senate.