As the Interim Program Director of the Shenandoah University Physician Assistant (PA) Program, I strongly support the petition to remove the requirement that a patient care team physician’s name be included on prescriptions for Schedule II-V medications.

This change is a necessary step in recognizing the autonomous prescribing authority of PAs within the collaborative practice framework. PAs are rigorously trained medical professionals who provide high-quality patient care, and their ability to prescribe controlled substances is already regulated through state licensure, DEA registration, and collaborative practice agreements. Requiring a supervising physician’s name on prescriptions does not enhance patient safety but rather creates administrative burdens that can delay care, contribute to confusion at the pharmacy, and misrepresent the prescribing provider’s role in the patient’s treatment plan.

Removing this requirement aligns with best practices in other states and supports a more efficient and transparent healthcare system. I urge the Board of Medicine to approve this petition and modernize regulations to better reflect the evolving role of PAs in Virginia’s healthcare workforce.

Sincerely,

Erika Francis, DMS, PA-C

Interim Program Director

Shenandoah University PA Program