Physician assistants: disability certifications.

The Physician Assistant Practice Act authorizes a delegation of services agreement to authorize a physician assistant to engage in specified activities. Existing law requires a claimant for unemployment compensation disability benefits to establish medical eligibility for each uninterrupted period of disability by filing a first claim for disability benefits supported by the certificate of a treating physician or practitioner that establishes the sickness, injury, or pregnancy of the employee, or the condition of the family member that warrants the care of the employee. Existing law defines the term "practitioner" to mean a person duly licensed or certified in California acting within the scope of his or her license or certification who is a dentist, podiatrist, or a nurse practitioner, as prescribed. This bill would amend the Physician Assistant Practice Act to authorize a physician assistant to certify disability, after performance of a physical examination by the physician assistant under the supervision of a physician and surgeon consistent with the act. The bill would correspondingly expand the definition of practitioner to include a physician assistant. This bill would require the Employment Development Department to implement these provisions on or before January 1, 2017.