As a practicing PA and PA Medicine program director, I strongly support the petition to remove the requirement that a patient care team physician must review the clinical course and treatment plan when a patient presents twice for the same acute complaint in a single episode of care.

This requirement creates unnecessary administrative burdens without improving patient outcomes. PAs are highly trained, licensed professionals who evaluate, diagnose, and manage acute complaints within their scope of practice. Requiring a physician to review every repeated acute visit does not add clinical value but instead introduces delays, increases workload inefficiencies, and disrupts the continuity of care.

Patients often return for follow-up due to the natural progression of illness or to assess treatment effectiveness. PAs are fully capable of managing these cases and determining when physician consultation is necessary based on clinical judgment—not outdated regulatory mandates. Many states have already recognized the autonomy of PAs in similar situations, streamlining care without compromising safety.

Updating this regulation would allow PAs to focus more on patient care and less on redundant administrative requirements. It would improve workflow efficiency, reduce delays in treatment, and ultimately enhance the patient experience. I encourage the regulatory board to support this petition and help modernize healthcare delivery in Virginia.