New South Dakota Bill Poised to Expand Patient Access to Healthcare

The South Dakota Academy of PAs (SDAPA) and physician assistants (PAs) throughout the state applaud the efforts of Senator Erin Tobin (R-21) and Representative Chris Johnson (R-32) for introducing legislation that will expand access to care for South Dakotans. 

If enacted, the bill would modernize outdated laws by granting much-needed flexibility for PAs and other healthcare providers to partner together to care for patients.

“The current requirement that a PA have a specific relationship with a single physician is outdated and creates a paperwork burden on PAs, physicians, and employers,” said SDAPA President Nancy Trimble, DMS, PA-C. “This bill will strengthen team-based care by allowing healthcare providers to decide together what will work best for their patients.”

Specifically, S.B. 134 would remove the administrative barriers to team-based care for PAs with more than 1,040 hours of experience. If enacted, the bill will allow PAs to partner with multiple healthcare providers. This change will end the logistical burden for physicians and PAs and allow all healthcare providers to care for patients more effectively. Similar laws have recently been enacted in North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming.

Reducing administrative barriers is vital, especially given current strains on the healthcare workforce. Since 2020, over 500,000 healthcare workers have left the field entirely. S.B. 134 would remove outdated requirements, allow providers to work together more effectively, and reduce burnout.

“Today’s healthcare marketplace – and the challenges it faces – requires flexibility and maneuverability. Our current laws prevent healthcare providers from quickly responding to the needs of South Dakota’s patients,” Trimble said. “From a small, private practice to a large healthcare system, S.B. 134 will update the law so PAs, other providers, and their employers have the flexibility to create and define a healthcare team that works best for their patients.”

S.B. 134 would also affirm that PAs – not physicians – are legally responsible for the care they provide to patients, removing physician liability for patient care in which they did not directly participate.

PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s main healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. There are approximately 150,000 PAs in the United States who are committed to improving healthcare access.