Scope of Practice in Ohio FAQs

Per Ohio Revised Code 4730.02, "No person practicing as a physician assistant shall prescribe any drug or device to perform or induce an abortion, or otherwise perform or induce an abortion."

It is our understanding, based on extensive consultation with obstetrician-gynecologists and legal counsel, that this law forbids PAs from prescribing Methotrexate, or any medication, including over the counter, that would induce the end of a pregnancy, even in the case of ectopic or other nonviable pregnancy and/or if the pregnant patient's life is at risk. Such medication should be prescribed by the PA's supervising physician or the OB/GYN team.

Per Ohio Revised Code 4730.201, "a physician assistant may administer, monitor, or maintain local anesthesia as a component of a procedure the physician assistant is performing or as a separate service when the procedure requiring local anesthesia is to be performed by the physician assistant's supervising physician or another person. A physician assistant shall not administer, monitor, or maintain any other form of anesthesia, including regional anesthesia or any systemic sedation."

Please note OAPA seeks to pursue legislation that would permit PAs to perform moderate sedation. Learn more about OAPA's advocacy priorities here.

Per Ohio Revised Code 4730.21, "The supervising physician shall be continuously available for direct communication with the physician assistant by either...being physically present...[or]...being readily available to the physician assistant through some means of telecommunication and being in a location that is a distance from the location where the physician assistant is practicing that reasonably allows the physician to assure proper care of patients."

A supervising physician can have multiple supervision agreements with PAs but can only supervise 5 PAs at any one time.