Scope of Practice in Ohio FAQs

Yes, legally PAs can consent and order blood transfusions. However, you should check your hospital/office policy to see if you are allowed to at your specific location. 

Per Ohio Revised Code 4730.02, "No person practicing as a physician assistant shall prescribe any drug or device to perform or induce an abortion, or otherwise perform or induce an abortion."

It is our understanding, based on extensive consultation with obstetrician-gynecologists and legal counsel, that this law forbids PAs from prescribing Methotrexate, or any medication, including over the counter, that would induce the end of a pregnancy, even in the case of ectopic or other nonviable pregnancy and/or if the pregnant patient's life is at risk. Such medication should be prescribed by the PA's supervising physician or the OB/GYN team.

UPDATE:  We are aware of the case of PLANNED PARENTHOOD SOUTHWEST OHIO REGION v. OHIO DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH which, among other things, seeks to remove the mifepristone prescribing ban on advanced practice clinicians (including PAs). Judge Alison Hatheway, per an August 2024 ruling, preliminarily enjoined the Defendant from enforcing [among other sections] Ohio Revised Code 4730.02(E), 4730.03(F), and 4730.42(A)(1) and Ohio Administrative Code 4730-2-07(E). Given the complexity and changes in this area of law, OAPA recommends that PAs consult legal counsel to understand how this ruling may impact their practice in Ohio if they intend to engage in this prescribing activity.

No. Under Ohio law, a supervising physician must maintain a legitimate, ongoing professional relationship with the PA, not merely a contractual or “paper-only” role.

Ohio Revised Code 4731.22 prohibits physicians from lending their license or name to a practice without actively directing patient care. This stipulation requires that a supervising physician be genuinely involved in oversight and quality assurance, even if they are not physically present. If a PA is the sole prescriber in a clinic and the supervising physician is not engaged in the practice’s operations, it could lead to disciplinary action for both the PA and the physician.

These arrangements must demonstrate real clinical supervision, not just a business contract. Anyone considering this kind of setup should consult with legal counsel to ensure compliance with both PA and physician practice laws in Ohio.

Per Ohio Revised Code 4730.21, "The supervising physician shall be continuously available for direct communication with the physician assistant by either...being physically present...[or]...being readily available to the physician assistant through some means of telecommunication and being in a location that is a distance from the location where the physician assistant is practicing that reasonably allows the physician to assure proper care of patients."

A supervising physician can have multiple supervision agreements with PAs but can only supervise 5 PAs at any one time.

As you may suspect, the best path to address a concern with your practice as a PA will depend on the issue.

OAPA is here to field questions about PA practice and how to understand PA-related laws and rules in the Ohio Revised Code and Ohio Administrative Code as they may relate to your situation, along with our aim to improve the general public's understanding of PA practice.

For workplace challenges with your employer, we recommend working together with your manager, a director, the advanced practice provider lead, or whichever roles make sense within your organization to identify and resolve the concern. Serious situations that are not resolvable by these types of leaders may make sense to elevate through an HR, ethics, and/or compliance reporting process that your organization may have in place. In extreme cases, you may need to engage legal counsel (consider contacting OAPA for a referral to a firm with PA practice familiarity.)

Depending on the situation, these other entities may have resources that are of help to you:

• State Medical Board of Ohio
• Ohio Department of Health
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• The Joint Commission