06/10/2026

Ohio House Bill 963: Modern PA Law for Modern Patient Care

OAPA is proud to announce House Bill 963, a long-awaited PA practice modernization and collaboration bill.

Coponsored by Representative Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) and Representative Meredith Craig (R-Smithville), HB 963 aligns state law with modern PA education and practice, benefitting Ohio patients and healthcare teams alike.

The bill eliminates outdated administrative burdens to improve patient care, reduce healthcare costs, and permit PAs to practice to the full extent of their education and training, in collaboration with a healthcare team.

Key provisions include:

• Change the language of the PA and physician relationship from “supervision” to “collaboration.”
• Remove language regarding physician liability, direction, and control of PAs and “physician- delegated” prescriptive authority.
• Remove the requirement for 500 hours of direct, on-site physician prescribing supervision for new PA licensees.
• Permit PAs to sign documents that are within the scope of their supervising physicians.
• Eliminate the PA-to-physician ratio.
• Permit PAs to advertise their services.
• Modernize the PA Policy Committee (PAPC).
• Authorize PAs to be directly paid by public and private insurers.
• Remove geographical proximity requirement for supervising physicians.
• Authorize PAs to use ablative lasers.
• Update PA authority as it relates to sedation in urgent or emergent situations.
• Eliminate the separate requirement of 12 pharmacology continuing medical education credits.
• Permit PAs to prescribe and dispense glasses or contact lenses.
• Add PAs as an eligible provider type to complete the Guardian’s Report for the Statement of Expert Evaluation.

This legislation aims to resolve many longstanding practice barriers, moving our state closer to OAPA's vision of Ohio as the premier state for PAs.

"This moment has been a long time in the making," said Matthew Freado, MBA, PA-C, OAPA Government Affairs Chair. "OAPA is grateful for the support of our House cosponsors, Representatives Deeter and Craig, and for the input from so many PAs who shared their knowledge, ideas, and concerns. The real-world experiences and passion of PAs, for their careers and their patients, helped shape this transformative legislation."

With the Ohio General Assembly approaching its summer recess, formal legislative action on this bill is unlikely until fall. Even so, its official introduction is a meaningful milestone, marking the beginning of a broader campaign to build public awareness and generate the grassroots momentum this legislation will need to advance.

Please read on to learn more and find out how you can get involved!