Maryland modernized physician assistant practice. Now, lawmakers should finish the job

Physician assistants deliver quality health care and could do so much more if their ability to practice was not tied to a collaborating physician, writes Brandon McMullen, who says it's time to change that policy and further expand health access.

By: Brandon McMullen

Outlets: Maryland Matters

Published: September 6, 2026

Words: 600

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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I care for roughly 1,400 primary care patients on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. If the physician listed on my collaboration agreement retired tomorrow and no other physician remained on that agreement, Maryland law could force me to stop seeing those patients. My education, license and competence would not change. Only the paperwork would.

That is not a hypothetical. Under current Maryland law, a physician assistant may practice only after notifying the State Board of Physicians that …

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