Jim Paul/Daily News photo State Rep. Dave Prestin was at Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson on Tuesday to promote HB 4309, which would enable physician assistants from other participating states to work in Michigan without a separate Michigan license.

IRON MOUNTAIN — An Upper Peninsula state legislator has introduced a bill that would allow physician assistants from neighboring states to practice in Michigan without needing multiple licenses.

tate Rep. Dave Prestin, R-Cedar River, was at Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson on Tuesday along with co-sponsoring state Rep. Karl Bohnak and hospital officials and physician assistants to promote the bill, which he says would help address health care shortages, especially in rural areas.

Introduced March 27, HB 4309 would create a PA Licensure Compact that eliminates a barrier to moving across borders to provide treatment. Ohio and Wisconsin already are involved in such arrangements with other states and would include Michigan under the bill, he said.

“Allowing PAs to practice across state lines via the compact will bring more providers to underserved communities,” Prestin said.

PA Jodi McCollum of U.P. Health Systems spoke in favor of the bill, saying PAs can make up for the lack of much-needed primary and mental health care coverage, along with other subspecialties, in underserved areas if not restricted by state lines.

McCollum added that patients treated in Wisconsin if a need arises can’t be helped by their Michigan provider.

“Distance, weather and a shortage of health care workers is a lethal triad for our families and loved ones,” McCollum said. “If we get rid of the Wisconsin state line for our state license, we will have better access to labs, prescriptions and testing.”

Marshfield Medical Center-Dickinson President Mandy Shelast pointed out the difficulties of being a health care provider near the state border. Shelast said there are PAs in Wisconsin who would be happy to come over and fill in when needed but cannot because of the licensing.

Shelast also noted that PAs at the MMC-D clinic in Florence, Wis., have to go through a long and expensive process of getting licensed in Wisconsin to practice there.

Continuity of care is an utmost priority, Prestin said.

“When patients bounce between providers, that continuity is lost every time that patient handoff occurs,” Prestin said. “Patients being able to stay with their providers while navigating the health care system is essential.”

Michigan joining the compact could have a ripple effect with other states, he added.

has really nothing but positives attributed to it and its ability to move the workforce throughout the system relatively seamlessly,” Prestin said.

The bill has bipartisan support, Prestin added, with backing from 18 Democrats. In addition to Bohnak, R-Deerton, Hancock Republican state Rep. Greg Markkanen is among the sponsors.

It has been referred to the state House Committee on Health Policy. PA bill