6542 - Performance of medical services.

§ 6542. Performance of medical services.  1. Notwithstanding any other  provision  of  law,  a physician assistant may perform medical services,  but only when under the supervision of a physician and  only  when  such  acts  and duties as are assigned to him are within the scope of practice  of such supervising physician.    2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a specialist  assistant  may  perform  medical services, but only when under the supervision of a  physician and only when such acts and duties as are assigned to him  are  related  to  the designated medical specialty for which he is registered  and are within the scope of practice of his supervising physician.    3. Supervision shall be continuous  but  shall  not  be  construed  as  necessarily requiring the physical presence of the supervising physician  at the time and place where such services are performed.    4.  No  physician  shall  employ  or supervise more than two physician  assistants and two specialist assistants in his private practice.    5. Nothing in this article shall prohibit a  hospital  from  employing  physician  assistants  or specialist assistants provided they work under  the supervision of a physician designated by the hospital and not beyond  the scope of practice of such physician.   The numerical  limitation  of  subdivision  four  of this section shall not apply to services performed  in a hospital.    6. Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, nothing  shall  prohibit a physician employed by or rendering services to the department  of  correctional  services  under contract from supervising no more than  four physician assistants or specialist assistants in his  practice  for  the department of correctional services.    7.  Notwithstanding  any  other  provision  of  law,  a  trainee in an  approved program may perform medical services  when  such  services  are  performed within the scope of such program.    8.  Nothing  in this article, or in article thirty-seven of the public  health law, shall be construed  to  authorize  physician  assistants  or  specialist  assistants  to  perform  those specific functions and duties  specifically delegated by law to those persons licensed as allied health  professionals under the public health law or the education law.