Alaska Senate Passes Bill Allowing Physician Assistants to Practice Independently

The bill would remove the state's current requirement that all physician assistants work under a formal collaborative agreement with physicians.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Alaska Senate has unanimously passed a bill that would allow physician assistants with sufficient training to practice under an independent license, removing the state's current requirement that they work under a formal collaborative agreement with physicians. Supporters say the change would reduce administrative burdens and increase access to care, while some physicians argue it lowers the bar for training and could affect patient care.

Why it matters

This bill aims to address the challenges of finding physicians to maintain collaborative agreements, particularly in remote areas of Alaska, which can delay and increase the cost of care. It reflects a broader debate over the appropriate scope of practice for physician assistants compared to physicians.

The details

Senate Bill 89, sponsored by Anchorage Democratic Sen. Löki Tobin, would allow physician assistants to apply for an independent license after completing 4,000 hours of postgraduate supervised clinical practice. Currently, physician assistants in Alaska must operate under a collaborative plan with physicians that outlines the medical services they can provide and requires oversight from doctors. Supporters argue this creates administrative burdens, while opponents say it lowers the bar for training compared to physicians.

  • The Alaska Senate passed the bill on Wednesday, March 5, 2026, with 18 votes in favor and 2 members absent.
  • The bill now heads to House committees before a potential vote on the House floor.

The players

Löki Tobin

Anchorage Democratic Sen. and sponsor of Senate Bill 89.

Mary Swain

CEO of Cama'i Community Health Center in Bristol Bay, who testified in support of the bill.

Jared Wallace

Physician assistant in Kenai and owner of Odyssey Family Practice, who testified in support of the bill.

Dr. Nicholas Cosentino

Internal medicine physician who testified in opposition to the bill, arguing that physician assistants do not receive the same depth of training as doctors.

Alaska Primary Care Association

Supported the intent of the bill but argued that physician assistants should complete 10,000 hours in a collaborative practice model with a physician before practicing independently.

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What they’re saying

“In my experience, a collaborative plan does not improve nor ensure good patient care. Instead, it is a barrier in providing good health care in a rural community where access is limited, is a threat that delicately suspends my practice in place, and if severed, the 6,000 patients that I care for would lose access to (their) primary provider and become displaced.”

— Jared Wallace, Physician assistant in Kenai and owner of Odyssey Family Practice (adn.com)

“It's not infrequent that you get a patient that you're not exactly sure you know what's going on, and you have to fall back on your scientific background, the four years of medical school training, the countless hours of residency to come up with that differential, to think critically and come up with a plan for that patient. I think the bill as stated, 4,000 hours, does not equate to that level of training.”

— Dr. Nicholas Cosentino, Internal medicine physician (adn.com)

What’s next

The bill now heads to House committees before a potential vote on the House floor.

The takeaway

This bill reflects an ongoing debate over the appropriate scope of practice for physician assistants compared to physicians, with supporters arguing it will improve access to care and opponents concerned it lowers the bar for training. The outcome could have significant implications for healthcare delivery in Alaska, particularly in rural areas.