New law cuts red tape for Physician Assistants

A new state law eliminates some of the paperwork for Iowans who want to enter one medical specialty. Iowa’s rural areas, in particular, are growing more dependent on physician’s assistants for medical care. Governor Vilsack has signed into law a new licensing process for P-As. Under the old law, physician’s assistants had to get credentials from two state boards before they could practice. The new law allows them to simply apply to the newly-independent Physician’s Assistant Licensing Board. P-As generally take two years of medical training and they are able to issue prescriptions under certain conditions.