Medical assistants: supervision.

Existing law authorizes a medical assistant to perform specified services relating to the administration of medication and performance of skin tests and simple routine medical tasks and procedures upon specific authorization from and under the supervision of a licensed physician and surgeon or podiatrist, or in a specified clinic upon specific authorization of a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or nurse-midwife. Existing law requires the Board of Registered Nursing to issue a certificate to practice nurse-midwifery to a qualifying applicant who is licensed pursuant to the Nursing Practice Act. This bill would delete the requirement that the services performed by the medical assistant be in a specified clinic when under the specific authorization of a physician assistant, nurse practitioner, or certified nurse-midwife. The bill would prohibit a nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or physician assistant from authorizing a medical assistant to perform any clinical laboratory test or examination for which the medical assistant is not authorized, as specified, a violation of which would constitute unprofessional conduct. The bill would also delete several obsolete references and make other clarifying, conforming, technical, and nonsubstantive changes.