Paperwork Watch · 2026-W39
Where the physician has to stand: three states still write presence into the PA agreement
This week's proximity count for physician assistants: Alabama and Tennessee require on-site presence, Mississippi sets a 30-mile radius, and 48 jurisdictions accept remote availability or say nothing. Plus a DEA registration decision involving a nurse practitioner.
On the docket
DEA issues a decision and order in a nurse practitioner registration matter
The Drug Enforcement Administration published a Decision and Order in the matter of Cheryl White, N.P., noticed in the Federal Register on 2026-09-11. Practices whose agreement files list a nurse practitioner's DEA registration alongside the collaborating physician's should check that the registration details on file match the current record.
Source: Federal Register: Cheryl White, N.P.; Decision and Order
Strictest and loosest: where the physician must be, for physician assistants
3 jurisdictions codify a physical-presence or radius rule; 48 accept remote availability or set no rule.
Mississippi: within a set radius of 30 miles
Mississippi is the one jurisdiction that fixes a distance, tying the collaborating physician to a 30-mile radius under its written protocol.
Tennessee: on-site presence required
Tennessee also requires on-site presence, so a site roster in the agreement file has to reflect where the physician actually is.
Alaska: available remotely
Alaska accepts remote availability of the collaborating physician under its collaborative practice agreement.
Arizona: no proximity requirement
Arizona's supervision agreement sets no proximity rule at all.
Arkansas: available remotely
Arkansas files the instrument as a delegation agreement and accepts remote availability.
California: available remotely
California accepts remote availability under its practice agreement for physician assistants.
Every outside claim carries the source it was read from this week. Our own research dates are on each state page. Published 2026-09-21.