What is the point of having a supervising physician's name on prescriptions for controlled substances?  PAs are licensed, credentialed, and privileged and have DEA licenses to prescribe controlled substances.  The Commonwealth of Virginia monitors all prescriptions for controlled substances and provides a monthly prescription report for all licensed providers.

What additional public protection or patient safety does the requirement to list a physician on the prescription add?

PAs are required to have collaborating physicians but those physicians are in no way responsible for the prescriptions that a PA writes and therefore this is an unnecessary regulation.