Allows physician assistants to serve as primary care practitioners for purposes of Medicaid managed care plans

This bill allows physician assistants to officially serve as primary care practitioners within Medicaid managed care plans. By amending state social services law, it expands the list of qualified medical providers that managed care organizations must include when arranging access to care for participants. The legislation updates legal definitions to explicitly recognize physician assistants alongside physicians and nurse practitioners for these specific roles. Although the bill passed the legislature, it was vetoed by the governor and did not become law.