The House Health and Social Services Committee held a confirmation hearing Thursday for Norman Walker, a physician assistant appointed to the State Medical Board, and received a presentation from the University of Alaska Anchorage College of Health on workforce development programs.

Walker has practiced as a physician assistant for 27 years across multiple states, including four years in Alaska. He told the committee he brings experience in neurosurgery, cardiothoracic surgery, emergency medicine and family practice. He said he has no political agenda but supports regulatory changes that would give physician assistants more practice independence, similar to nurse practitioners.

"I do not have any political affiliations or significant encumberments that would prevent me from having an unbiased opinion," Walker said. "I wanted to be able to serve other physician assistants and help them to work their way through the process."

Walker's most recent Alaska position ended in January with Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium. He said the contract ended by mutual agreement. He is currently working a temporary position in Delaware while seeking permanent employment in Alaska. His supervising physician in Alaska was Victor Sonoy Harrison.

Representative Gray asked about Walker's experience with different state licensing systems. Walker said he has seen physician assistants pushed out of rural markets in states like Montana because hospitals found it easier to hire nurse practitioners who do not require physician supervision agreements.

"The fact that it is easier for organizations to license or not have to supervise nurse practitioners, they were kind of pushing physicians into only urban areas where you had a lot of physicians in order to do the direct supervision," Walker said.

Walker has attended two or three State Medical Board meetings since his appointment several months ago. He said the board's biggest challenge is inadequate staffing, with several positions unfilled. The board primarily reviews license applications and investigates complaints against healthcare providers.

When asked about the board's role in approving collaborative practice agreements between physician assistants and supervising physicians, Walker said agreements must meet minimum requirements for chart review and supervision based on the provider's experience level. He said he has not yet been asked to review any supervision agreements in his new role.

Committee Chair Representative Mina asked about recent controversies involving State Medical Board resolutions. Walker said he was not aware of specifics about any controversy.

The committee took no action on Walker's confirmation. Under Alaska law, a signature on the committee's report does not reflect an intent to vote for or against confirmation during any future session.