Can a Physician's Assistant operate a private practice on their own?

Question

Once someone acquires a PA degree, does a physician's assistant alway have to be affiliated or work with a doctor or can they have a practice all on their own?

Answer 1

We have a PA in our little town. She has her own practice but she has to have an MD to more or less oversee what she does from afar.

Answer 2

PAs are essentially extensions of physicians. They require a master's degree in most cases and are on the same level of providers as NPs (nurse practitioners).
Medicare allows a PA to own 99% of a practice. a spouse, etc can own the other 1%
several states( a handful) do not allow a PA to own clinics- don't know which ones off hand. The vast majority do allow for pa ownership of clinics.Typically, you hire 2 physician consultants( in case 1 moves/quits/dies/etc) to do whatever the min state required chart review is( usually around 10% or so). They typically spend 0-4 hrs/week at the practice doing min admin stuff and are paid a few thousand a month+ a malpractice policy. All state laws require PAs to have a supervising doctor. This physician does not necessarily have to be onsite at the same location as the PA. Most states allow physician supervision by telephone communication with periodic site visits. PAs must obtain their own DEA/NPI number.

Answer 3

They have to be with a doctor at all times as the doc oversees everything they do. They cannot have their own practice.

Answer 4

pretty sure a pa must have an md's dea number to prescribe drugs---so, i gotta say no, can't be in practice alone..Tammy H

Answer 5

If they're an assistant, I wouldn't go to them

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Answer 6

no,they can only assist