The scope of practice of Medical Assistants depends on their clinical competency, education, and willingness of the employers to delegate clinical tasks. Some states do not provide precise regulatory guidance, while others may have specific guidelines.
This article covers the scope of the practice of Medical Assistants by State. It aims to help Medical Assistants (MAs) clarify their duties in various states while exploring opportunities.
Let us begin with a general understanding of the duties of MAs.
Competent and knowledgeable MAs can perform clinical tasks delegated by licensed physicians under their direct/onsite supervision. These tasks are:
Physicians may assign tasks directly/through licensed intermediaries like Licensed Practice Nurses (LPN), Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN), Registered Nurses (RN), or licensed Physician Assistants (PA) unless specifically mentioned otherwise in the state-wise details.
Subject to the regulations and laws of the state, MA’s may not be allowed to perform the following duties:
Unless specified henceforth, MAs in the state cannot perform these tasks.
Most states hold the delegating practitioner responsible for the performance of delegated tasks. They become liable to face actions that medical licensing boards take against malpractice liability if medical assistants fail to provide appropriate care.
Employers must clearly define the scope of practice of MAs in the job description or policy.
Medical assistants can check the patient’s data; however, employers must check with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for their “meaningful use” requirements.
Unless mentioned otherwise, the supervisor is responsible for the actions/negligence of MAs.
We are now ready to explore state regulations for medical assistants.
Written by : Casey Gardner
Casey Gardner is both a healthcare support professional and an accomplished content creator. She has been working as a certified health care professional with marketable skills as a physician assistant, and a qualified medical assistant for last two decades. She has dedicated her nursing career to produce over hundreds of content pieces since 2001, and her work has been published both online as well as offline.
