58-70a-501. Scope of practice.

788 words·~4 min read·/ut/title-58/chapter-70a/58-70a-501

A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.

Effective 5/6/2026

(a)A physician assistant may provide any medical services that are not specifically prohibited under this chapter or rules adopted under this chapter, and that are within the physician assistant's skills and scope of competence.

(b)Notwithstanding Sections 58-67-805 and 58-68-805 , authorization to provide medical services under Subsection

(1)includes performing minor surgical procedures.

(2)A physician assistant shall consult, collaborate with, and refer to appropriate members of the health care team:

(a)as indicated by the patient's condition;

(b)based on the physician assistant's education, experience, and competencies;

(c)the applicable standard of care; and

(d)if applicable, in accordance with the requirements described in Section 58-70a-307 .

(3)Subject to Section 58-70a-307 , the degree of collaboration under Subsection

(2):

(a)shall be determined at the physician assistant's practice, including decisions made by the physician assistant's:

(i)employer;

(ii)group;

(iii)hospital service; or

(iv)health care facility credentialing and privileging system; and

(b)may also be determined by a managed care organization with whom the physician assistant is a network provider.

(4)A physician assistant may only provide health care services:

(a)for which the physician assistant has been trained and credentialed, privileged, or authorized to perform; and

(b)that are within the physician assistant's practice specialty.

(5)A physician assistant may authenticate through a signature, certification, stamp, verification, affidavit, or endorsement any document that may be authenticated by a physician and that is within the physician assistant's scope of practice.

(6)A physician assistant is responsible for the care that the physician assistant provides.

(a)As used in this Subsection

(7):

(i)"ALS/ACLS certification" means a certification:

(A)in advanced life support by the American Red Cross;

(B)in advanced cardiac life support by the American Heart Association; or

(C)that is equivalent to a certification described in Subsection (7)(a)(i)(A) or

(B).

(ii)"Minimal sedation anxiolysis" means creating a drug induced state:

(A)during which a patient responds normally to verbal commands;

(B)which may impair cognitive function and physical coordination; and

(C)which does not affect airway, reflexes, or ventilatory and cardiovascular function.

(b)Except as provided in Subsections (7)(c) through

(e), a physician assistant may not administer general anesthetics.

(c)A physician assistant may perform minimal sedation anxiolysis if the procedure is within the physician assistant's scope of practice.

(d)A physician assistant may perform rapid sequence induction for intubation of a patient if:

(i)the procedure is within the physician assistant's scope of practice;

(ii)the physician assistant holds a valid ALS/ACLS certification and is credentialed and privileged at the hospital where the procedure is performed; and

(A)a qualified physician is not available and able to perform the procedure; or

(B)the procedure is performed by the physician assistant under supervision of or delegation by a physician.

(e)Subsection (7)(b) does not apply to anesthetics administered by a physician assistant:

(i)in an intensive care unit of a hospital;

(ii)for the purpose of enabling a patient to tolerate ventilator support or intubation; and

(iii)under supervision of or delegation by a physician whose usual scope of practice includes the procedure.

(a)A physician assistant may prescribe or administer an appropriate controlled substance that is within the physician assistant's scope of practice if the physician assistant holds a Utah controlled substance license and a Drug Enforcement Administration registration.

(b)A physician assistant may prescribe, order, administer, and procure a drug or medical device that is within the physician assistant's scope of practice.

(c)A physician assistant may dispense a drug if dispensing the drug:

(i)is permitted under Title 58, Chapter 17b, Pharmacy Practice Act ; and

(ii)is within the physician assistant's scope of practice.

(9)A physician assistant may not perform or induce an abortion in violation of the requirements of Section 76-7-302 or Section 76-7a-201 , regardless of whether the physician assistant is found guilty of a crime in connection with the violation.

(10)A physician assistant practicing independently may only perform or provide a health care service that:

(a)is appropriate to perform or provide outside of a health care facility; and

(b)the physician assistant has been trained and credentialed or authorized to provide or perform independently without physician supervision.

(11)A physician assistant, while practicing as a physician assistant:

(a)shall wear an identification badge showing the physician assistant's license classification as a physician assistant;

(b)shall identify themselves to a patient as a physician assistant; and

(c)may not identify themselves to any person in connection with activities allowed under this chapter other than as a physician assistant or PA.

Amended by Chapter 96 , 2026 General Session