The state Senate voted unanimously in favor Wednesday to amend the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act and the Medical Practice Act of 1985 to help physician assistants work and practice with increased efficiency throughout the state.

Some of the changes include eliminating the requirement for a physician assistant to provide medical care and services under the direction of a physician, who instead will supervise the activities of the physician assistant as they provide medical services as spelled out in a written agreement with the supervising physician, according to a news release from the office of state Sen. Joe Pittman, R-41st, who put forth the bills.

The bills also identify the primary supervising physician, describe the physician assistant’s scope of practice and describe the nature and degree of supervision the primary supervising physician will provide the physician assistant, the news release says.