Physician Assistants Push for a New Name and Greater Autonomy

The New York Times Upshot reports that physician assistants are seeking to rebrand themselves as “physician associates” and win broader clinical powers, a change gaining traction in states like Oregon, New Hampshire, and Maine. The PA workforce has grown dramatically since 2000, but the push to rename the role is contentious among physicians and professional groups. State regulations on supervision, collaboration, and prescribing rights remain varied, meaning the move is as much about professional identity as it is about real authority in practice.