S 2859Healthcare: Licensing & Accreditation

Businesses and Professions - Physician Assistants

This bill establishes a specialized license for Physician Assistants who possess advanced certification and training in psychiatry and behavioral health.

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Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee Senate Health & Human Services

Plain-English Summary

This bill creates a new specialty license for Physician Assistants (PAs) in Rhode Island called "Physician Assistant - Behavioral Health." To qualify, a PA must already hold a standard license and possess a Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ) in psychiatry from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. This certification requires specific education, clinical experience, and passing an exam. While this new license does not expand what medical tasks a PA can legally perform, it formally recognizes their advanced training in mental health and is intended to help them get reimbursed by insurance companies for behavioral health services.

For younger readers

This law creates a special title for Physician Assistants (who are like doctor helpers) who know a lot about mental health. If a Physician Assistant studies extra hard, works many hours with mental health patients, and passes a special test, they can get a license called "Physician Assistant - Behavioral Health." This license tells people that this person is an expert in helping with feelings and mental health. It also helps make sure that insurance companies will pay them correctly for the work they do.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Physician AssistantsPsychiatristsMental Health PatientsInsurance CompaniesDepartment of Health

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Facilitates better insurance reimbursement for mental health services, potentially stabilizing the financial viability of providers who serve low-income or marginalized communities.
Formally recognizes the expertise of mid-level practitioners, encouraging more professionals to enter the mental health field to address critical provider shortages.
Enhances the quality of care within the mental health system by incentivizing Physician Assistants to pursue advanced training and certification in psychiatry.
Expressly forbids expanding the scope of practice, which limits the ability of these qualified professionals to fully address the mental health crisis and fill gaps left by a shortage of psychiatrists.
Creates additional bureaucratic hurdles and licensing fees for providers without actually granting them more authority to treat patients independently.
Relies on a private national certification body (NCCPA) for state licensing eligibility, which creates a barrier to entry that may exclude otherwise capable providers who cannot afford the certification process.

For Conservatives

Strictly limits the scope of practice to existing laws, ensuring that Physician Assistants do not encroach on the traditional role of doctors without physician supervision.
Utilizes a private sector credentialing body (NCCPA) to set standards rather than creating a new, expensive government testing regime.
Helps clarify billing and credentialing for private insurance markets, potentially reducing fraud or misrepresentation of qualifications.
Expands the administrative state by creating a new licensing category that requires government oversight, rulemaking, and management by the Department of Health.
Imposes additional regulatory burdens on medical professionals who are already subject to extensive government red tape.
Cedes state sovereignty regarding licensing requirements to a national non-governmental organization by mandating their specific certification.

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 31 additions

SECTION 1. Chapter 5-54 of the General Laws entitled "Physician Assistants" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: 5-54-29. Physician assistant -- Behavioral health license.

(a) Creation of license. There is hereby established a specialty license designation known as "physician assistant - behavioral health" for physician assistants practicing in the field of psychiatry or mental health.

(b) Eligibility. An applicant for licensure as a physician assistant - behavioral health shall:

(1) Hold a current and active license as a physician assistant in the State of Rhode Island pursuant to this chapter; and

(2) Hold a current certificate of added qualifications ("CAQ") in psychiatry issued by the national commission on certification of physician assistants ("NCCPA").

(c) Criteria. The requirements for issuance and maintenance of the physician assistant – behavioral health license shall be satisfied upon proof that the applicant has met and continues to meet all criteria established by the NCCPA for the psychiatry CAQ including, but not limited to:

(1) Possession of a current PA-C designation;

(2) Completion of required continuing medical education credits in psychiatry;

(3) Completion of required clinical experience hours in psychiatry practice;

(4) Attestation of competency by a collaborating or supervising physician in psychiatry; and

(5) Successful passage of the NCCPA psychiatry specialty examination.

(d) Application and renewal. The department of health shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the application, renewal, and documentation requirements for the physician assistant - behavioral health license. Renewal of this specialty license shall require continued maintenance of the psychiatry CAQ through the NCCPA.

(e) Scope of practice. A physician assistant - behavioral health shall practice in accordance with the collaborative practice provisions of this chapter and applicable regulations. This specialty license shall not expand the scope of practice otherwise authorized under Rhode Island law but shall recognize advanced qualifications in psychiatry and mental health.

(f) Designation. A physician assistant issued a license pursuant to this section may use the title "physician assistant - behavioral health" or "PA-BH" in this state.

(g) Purpose. The specialty license created by this section is intended to formally recognize advanced psychiatric qualifications of physician assistants and to facilitate appropriate insurance reimbursement for behavioral health services provided within their lawful scope of practice

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.