H67 - Healthcare Workforce Reforms. (SL 2025-37)

Overview: Part IV of S.L. 2025-37 (House Bill 67) does the following:

• Makes North Carolina a member of the Physician Assistant (PA) Licensure Compact (the Compact), which allows PAs to practice in any state that is a member of the Compact.
• Requires states participating in the Compact to license PAs using a nationally recognized exam, conduct criminal background checks on PA applicants, have a mechanism to investigate complaints against PAs, participate in the Compact Commission's Data System, notify the Commission of any adverse action against a licensee or license applicant and the existence of significant investigative information regarding a licensee or license applicant, and to follow all the Compact's rules.
• Allows PAs to practice in states different from their states of licensure if they meet education, certification, and licensure requirements in their home state and have a license unencumbered by any adverse actions or discipline.  The privilege to practice in the other state lasts until the home state license expires, lapses, or is revoked.
• Requires designation of the state in which the PA licensee resides as the licensee's home state and that the Compact Commission be notified if the home state changes.  The PA must also agree to accept service of process by mail at this address for any action brought by the Commission or participating state.
• Allows any Compact state to take adverse action against any PA practicing in that state including investigating PAs and revoking their Compact privileges.  Home states must give the same priority to conduct reported by remote states that they would give to conduct reported in their own state.  

• Establishes the PA Licensure Compact Commission (the Commission) with each member state having one member on the Commission.  The Commission is charged with administering the Compact. Commission meetings are open to the public except if discipline, contract negotiation, or legal matters are being discussed.  The Commission must be funded by assessments levied on member states and is prohibited from incurring financial obligations without sufficient funds on hand to meet those obligations.  An Executive Committee of nine individuals is tasked with running the Commission.  Both Commission and Executive Committee members are held harmless and indemnified for their official actions.  The Commission has the following powers: (i) establishing a code of ethics, fees, bylaws, and fiscal year, (ii) maintaining financial records, (iii) adopting rules, (iv) taking actions necessary to administer the compact, (v) maintaining insurance, (vi) taking necessary legal actions, (vii) accepting gifts and donations, (viii) leasing, purchasing, and disposing of real property, (ix) borrowing money, (x) appointing committees, (xi) electing officers, and (xii) approving state membership in the Compact.

• Requires the Commission to develop and maintain a data and reporting system accessible to all Compact member states.  All member states must report (i) identifying information of licensees, (ii) licensure data, (iii) adverse action taken against licensees, (iv) denials of licensure applications, (v) significant investigative information, and (vi) other information as determined by rule.
• Makes the Compact effective after seven states enact legislation that is not materially different from the Model Compact.  Additional states become members of the Compact after they enact legislation that is not materially different from the Model Compact.  Any state may leave the Compact by repealing the Compact-enacting legislation.

This Part becomes effective April 1, 2026.