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Current as of January 01, 2026 | Updated by Findlaw Staff
1. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a physician assistant may perform medical services, but only when under the supervision of a physician and only when such acts and duties as are assigned to such physician assistant are within the scope of practice of such supervising physician.
2. Supervision shall be continuous but shall not be construed as necessarily requiring the physical presence of the supervising physician at the time and place where such services are performed.
3. No physician shall employ or supervise more than six physician assistants in such physician's private practice at one time.
4. Nothing in this article shall prohibit a hospital from employing physician assistants, provided that they work under the supervision of a physician designated by the hospital and not beyond the scope of practice of such physician. The numerical limitation of subdivision three of this section shall not apply to services performed in a hospital.
5. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, nothing shall prohibit a physician employed by or rendering services to the department of corrections and community supervision under contract from supervising no more than eight physician assistants in such physician's practice for the department of corrections and community supervision at one time.
6. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a trainee in an approved program may perform medical services when such services are performed within the scope of such program.
7. A physician assistant may prescribe and order a non-patient specific regimen to a registered professional nurse, pursuant to regulations promulgated by the commissioner, and consistent with the public health law, for:
(a) administering immunizations.
(b) the emergency treatment of anaphylaxis.
(c) administering purified protein derived (PPD) tests or other tests to detect or screen for tuberculosis infections.
(d) administering tests to determine the presence of the human immunodeficiency virus.
(e) administering tests to determine the presence of the hepatitis C virus.
(f) the urgent or emergency treatment of opioid related overdose or suspected opioid related overdose.
(g) screening of persons at increased risk of syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia.
(h) administering electrocardiogram tests to detect signs and symptoms of acute coronary syndrome.
(i) administering point-of-care blood glucose tests to evaluate acute mental status changes in persons with suspected hypoglycemia.
(j) administering tests and intravenous lines to persons that meet severe sepsis and septic shock criteria.
(k) administering tests to determine pregnancy.
(l) [Expires and deemed repealed July 1, 2026, pursuant to L.2024, c. 520, § 4.] administering tests to determine the presence of COVID-19 or its antibodies or influenza virus.
8. Nothing in this article, or in article thirty-seven of the public health law, shall be construed to authorize physician assistants to perform those specific functions and duties specifically delegated by law to those persons licensed as allied health professionals under the public health law or this chapter.
Cite this article: FindLaw.com - New York Consolidated Laws, Education Law - EDN § 6542. Performance of medical services - last updated January 01, 2026 | https://codes.findlaw.com/ny/education-law/edn-sect-6542/
FindLaw Codes may not reflect the most recent version of the law in your jurisdiction. Please verify the status of the code you are researching with the state legislature before relying on it for your legal needs.
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