Requires the department of health to establish a career ladder so that medical assistants can, through experience and education, increase their skills and the procedures in which they are permitted to assist. Changes the designation of health care assistant to medical assistant. Provides minimum requirements for entry-level medical assistants.   Official Text and Analysis.

Adds the specific delegated medical tasks medical assistants are able to perform: administering basic first aid, collecting routine laboratory specimens, assisting with patient examinations or treatment, performing minor clinical procedures, operating office medical equipment, performing basic laboratory procedures, and administering medications by unit, single, or calculated dosage including vaccines.

Requires that by December 1, 2012, the Secretary of the Department of Health to submit a preliminary plan on the rules it plans to adopt to administer this act to the Legislature. This includes rules on the categories of medical assistants, the scope of practice of each category of medical assistants, and the transition of health care assistants to medical assistants.

Provides that hemodialysis technicians may be trained by the facility in which he or she is employed and is not required to meet the other training requirements for medical assistants. Clarifies that persons performing end-stage renal dialysis in the home setting are not "medical assistants" and are not required to be certified.

Changes he designation of health care assistant to medical assistant. As of July 1, 2014, medical assistants must be certified. The DOH must adopt minimum requirements for entry into the medical assistant profession and establish a career ladder. Once certified, medical assistants may only practice in the category of medical assistant for which they are certified, but they may receive training under the supervision of a health care professional in another category of medical assistant. Medical assistants must be at least 18 years of age or older, have completed a program approved by the secretary, and complete the education and training requirements for the category for which they are seeking certification. One category must relate to hemodialysis technicians who may be trained by the facility in which they are employed and are otherwise exempt from the DOH requirements. The secretary of DOH may adopt rules providing for the transition of health care assistants to medical assistants. The secretary must adopt rules to administer the program. Medical assistants are subject to the Uniform Disciplinary Act. The certificates of medical assistants follow them wherever they work. The secretary must submit a plan to the Legislature on the proposed categories of medical assistants, their scope of practice, and the plan to transition health care assistants to medical assistants.

Removes many regulatory provisions in the underlying bill. Authorizes the substitution of military training for requirements in current law. Authorizes optometrists to direct the practice of a medical assistant. Adds a reporting requirement to DOH. Allows a nursing technician to work in a clinical setting.

Creates four new licensed medical professions: medical assistant-certified; medical assistant registered; medical assistant-hemodialysis technician; and medical assistant phlebotomist. Eliminates the health care assistant credential effective July 1, 2016.