You asked if any state law addresses “medical assistants. ”

PA 04-82 (CGS §19a-6f) requires the Department of Public Health (DPH) to annually obtain from the American Association of Medical Assistants a list of all state residents on the organization's registry of certified medical assistants. DPH must make the list available to the public.

The law does not define “medical assistants. ” Generally, medical assistants are allied health professionals trained to work in ambulatory settings (e. g. physician's offices, clinics, and group practices). They perform administrative and other procedures.

In 1995, DPH's Office of Practitioner Licensing and Certification issued a “Fact Sheet Regarding Medical Assistants. ” It states,

“…there is a realm of unregulated activity which may be engaged in by an unlicensed person, such as medical assistant. If these activities do not require licensure as a health care provider, or are not considered to be nursing activities, which can only be delegated by a licensed nurse to an unlicensed person, then we do not see the conflict in the functioning of medical assistants with licensure acts. Examples of specifically prohibited activities are radiology and medication administration by any route (including oxygen, immunizations, and tuberculin testing). Also, the professional judgment piece of any regulated profession, e. g. assessment, diagnosing, planning, and evaluation of clients or their care, can never be delegated. However, data collection by unlicensed persons, to be used by licensed professionals within the aforementioned activities, is not a licensed activity…”

DPH cautions that this is not meant as a declaratory ruling. (The full statement is attached. )

JK: tjo