Knowledge Library

Alaska SB 89 and the evolving supervision of physician assistants

Implications for MIEC members and healthcare organizations The Alaska Legislature’s passage of Senate Bill 89 (SB 89) in May 2026 represents one of the most significant changes to provider scope of practice in the state in recent years. The bill modernizes how physician assistants (PAs) practice, shifting from a rigid supervision framework to a more flexible, collaborative model. While the legislation is intended to improve access to care — particularly in rural areas — it also introduces meaningful clinical, legal, and operational risks that healthcare organizations must actively manage. What SB 89 Changes From supervision to collaboration: SB 89 reduces...

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The Use of Advanced Practice Providers in a Medical Practice: Update 2020

Physicians work with advanced practice providers (APPs) in a variety of medical settings. Advanced practice providers include physician assistants (PAs), and four classifications of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs): nurse practitioners (NPs), certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), and certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). As the healthcare industry is experiencing an ever-increasing aging patient population, fewer physicians, is transitioning to value-based reimbursement, APPs are becoming vital to the success of team-based care. In this article we explore the qualifications of APPs, the benefits of employing APPs, as well as the impact they have on the role of physicians. Advanced...

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