Physician Assistants In Oregon First To Rebrand As ‘Physician Associates’

Physician assistants in Oregon will soon be able to rebrand under new rules officially changing their titles to “physician associates.”

A bill, which contains the name change to physician associates was passed by the Oregon state legislature and signed into law earlier this month by Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek. The new licensing rules will take effect June 6, 2024.

“This is a huge accomplishment that will help pave the way for more states to adopt title change and ensure patients better understand how PAs practice on healthcare teams,” said Folusho E. Ogunfiditimi, who is president and chair of the board of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA).

The name change comes amid a primary care shortage that is triggering states across the country to expand the scope of practice for healthcare professionals like PAs and nurse practitioners. Increasingly, states are allowing PAs to do more and supporters of the name change say the new title better reflects what they are allowed to do, including prescribe medications and diagnose certain illnesses.

“We’ve had countless meetings with legislators to ensure they understand the vital role our profession plays in the healthcare system and the need for a title that better reflects this role,” said Alisa Gifford, president of the Oregon Society of Physician Associates.

“Thanks to the passage of House Bill 4010, PAs will have a title that more accurately reflects our scope of practice and will give patients a better understanding of the important credentials and responsibilities that PAs have within the healthcare system,” Gifford said. “I hope it helps pave the way for other states to update their title as well.”

But the push to create more physician associates could face hurdles in other states due to opposition from physicians and their lobbies.

In 2021, for example, the American Medical Association’s policy-making House of Delegates opposed AAPA’s efforts to change the official title of the profession from ‘physician assistant’ to ‘physician associate.’

“The AMA believes changing the title of ‘physician assistants’ will only serve to further confuse patients about who is providing their care, especially since AAPA sought a different title change in recent years, preferring to only use the term ‘PA’,” AMA immediate past president Dr. Susan R. Bailey said in June of 2021.

“Given the existing difficulty many patients experience in identifying who is or is not a physician, it is important to provide patients with more transparency and clarity in who is providing their care, not more confusion,” Bailey said. “Yet, AAPA’s effort to change the title of physician assistants to rebrand their profession will undoubtedly confuse patients and is clearly an attempt to advance their pursuit toward independent practice.”