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🎈Celebrating our sixth anniversary 12/24/22!

New 2020 Assistant Physician Bills in Missouri! (3/5/20)! Missouri HB 1977, HB 2212, and HB 2252, which create provisions for a pathway from AP to full Physician licensure, are working their way through the House of Representatives! Stay tuned!

Board of Healing Arts Update (2/17/20)! The number of Assistant Physicians (APs) in Missouri reaches a new high! As of 2/17/20, there are 237 Assistant Physicians who all are practicing or eligible to practice. Hire an AP today!

Update (4/29/19)! HB710 with AP pathways to supervision of NPs and physician licensure has passed the Health and Mental Health Policy Committee 10-4 with 5 absent! Thank you to Rep. Lynn Morris (573-751-2565), my Rep. Dale Wright, and all supporters who called, emailed, and testified!

Update (4/26/19)! Just spoke with my representative who is a member of the Health and Mental Health Policy Committee. He thinks that the bill will pass the committee on Monday, 4/29/19, but may need to be amended to another House (or Senate) bill in order to pass the entire House (and Senate) due to the lateness of the legislative season. Please contact Representative Lynn Morris (573-751-2565), the bill sponsor, to show your support and encourage continued pursuit of passage.

News Flash (4/19/19)! HB710, which modifies provisions relating to Assistant Physicians (APs), will be heard at a Health and Mental Health Policy Hearing this Tuesday, 4/23/19 at 10:00 a.m. in House Hearing Room 1, 201 W. Capitol Ave., Jefferson City, MO 65101. This very important bill proposes:

1. the ability of APs to enter into Collaborative Practice Agreements (CPAs) similar to being a Collaborative Physician (CP) with up to four APRNs and/or PAs after eighteen months;
2. an alternative path to full physician licensure after five years of 'continuous, full-time, active collaborating practice' and passage of Step 3 in 'less than three attempts and within a three-year period after receiving his or her initial assistant physician license';
3. 'One hundred hours of didactics during the five-year postgraduate training'; and,
4. 'All continuing medical education requirements as required for assistant physicians under this chapter."

Board of Healing Arts Update (12/24/18)! The number of Assistant Physicians (APs) in Missouri reaches a new high on the second anniversary of freedomfordoctors.org! As of 12/24/18, there are 167 Assistant Physicians who all are practicing or eligible to practice. Hire an AP today!

Board of Healing Arts Update (11/13/18)! The number of Assistant Physicians (APs) in Missouri has grown 56% in six (6) months! As of 11/13/18, there are 156 Assistant Physicians who all are practicing or eligible to practice. Hire an AP today!

Board of Healing Arts Update (10/17/18)! The number of Assistant Physicians (APs) in Missouri has grown 52% in five (5) months! As of 10/17/18, there are 152 Assistant Physicians who all are practicing or eligible to practice. Hire an AP today!

Board of Healing Arts Update (10/9/18)! The number of Assistant Physicians (APs) in Missouri has grown 43% in less than five (5) months! As of 10/9/18, there are 143 Assistant Physicians who all are practicing or eligible to practice. Hire an AP today!

Board of Healing Arts Update (7/22/18)! The number of Assistant Physicians (APs) in Missouri has surged from 100 to 117 in two months! As of 10/9/18, there are 55 APs licensed and practicing with 62 more licensed and looking. Hire an AP today

New (7/15/18)! The first annual "Freedom to Realize the Dream of Medicine (FRDM) Index" for 2018 is available for download! Where does your state rank in medical freedom?

Breaking News (7/8/18)! Governor Parsons has signed SB718! Rep. Frederick (R-Rolla, MO) has extensive quotes in this linked article detailing his efforts and the benefits for APs, rural residents, and those afflicted by the opioid crisis in Missouri! Please see our 'Links and Politics' section for how you can support him in his Senate bid!

Update (5/18/18)! Rep. Frederick (R-Rolla, MO) has shared that the proposed substitute bill for SB718 which, among other things, would make changes to Missouri regulation section 334.036 governing the licensure and parameters of an Assistant Physician (AP), has been passed inclusive of an emergency clause and sent to the Governor for Signature. The final bill may be different from what is presented in the aforementioned link or the following. Some highlights (which are not to be seen as exhaustive, but merely as a gist of the proposed legislation) are:

1. Modifies the Step exam requirement to only completion of Step 2 (or an equivalent) successfully, thereby removing the stipulation of Step 1, within the preceding three years (instead of the two currently prescribed).
2. Limits AP licensure fee to no greater than that for a PA, caps CME hours to no more than that of a physician, and nullifies any provisions that contradict those contained within the bill and section 334.037.
3. Provides for health-carrier and healthcare-plan reimbursement of APs for delivery of services commensurate with the levels of other mid-level providers such as PAs.
4. Removes the requirement to enter into a collaborative practice agreement (CPA) within 6 months as well as the prohibition on having more than six months between CPAs.
5. Increases the number of agreements into which a collaborating physician (CP) may enter from three to six full-time equivalent APs alone or in combination with PAs and/or APRNs.
6. Prohibits rule-making that would require a CP to review more than ten percent of the patient charts or records during a one-month period.
7. Allows 30-day term of buprenorphine prescription without refill for those pursuing treatment for substance abuse disorders under the auspices of the CP license.
8. Exempts CPs from documenting 120 hours of service from APs who are providing treatment for those afflicted with opioid addiction.
9. Establishes the Improved Access to Treatment for Opioid Addictions Act (IATOAAct) governing information-sharing, best practices, and collaboration among APs, PAs, and APRNs.
10. Permits APs to collaborate with a licensed physician in the provision of mental health services and defines a "Psychiatric assistant physician" as a 'licensed assistant physician under chapter 334 who has had at least two years of experience providing psychiatric treatment for mental health.'

Happy 100 APs (5/16/18)! The number of Assistant Physicians (APs) in Missouri has broken the century mark! As of 5/16/18, there are 44 APs licensed and practicing with 56 more licensed and looking. Hire an AP today!

Breaking News (5/2/18)! Senate committee passes out HB2105 which seeks to establish the Opioid Addiction Prevention and Treatment Act of 2018. If this becomes law, it will help those affected by the opioid crisis and present a possible opportunity for APs to provide assistance!

The Rise of the Assistant Physician!

Update (4/28/18)! Since the first 13 licensees of 3/13/17, the number of practicing APs has grown to 41 with 51 more licensed and looking. The Missouri law has been a rousing success with thousands of patients from underserved and rural areas receiving care--some of whom have not seen a doctor for years! Outcomes have been improved with no dilution of medical care. Programs such as "Lift Up Springfield", which was founded by a recent AP, have grown to several clinics employing multiple APs. Hire an AP in MO today or contact legislators in your state! Together, we can heal the sick and indigent, wipe out the physician shortage across the country, and provide employment for unmatched medical graduates.

Breaking News (4/26/18)! Missouri Senate committee "Executive Session" votes "Do Pass" on Senate substitute of Missouri HB2127. Potential upgrades to current AP rules include: years post-grad/Step 2 eligibility increased to 3 years; elimination of the 6-month rules for initial CPA and gaps between CPAs; health care plan reimbursement; licensure fee restricted to no higher than that of a physician assistant; and, scope of services broadened to primary care and mental health.

Update(3/15/18)! HB2127 to remedy AP eligibility, insurance, and practice issues "Third Read and Passed by vote of 100-40! Now, it is on to the Senate!" - Dr. Keith Frederick, bill author

Open Letter to the People of Missouri from Assistant Physicians