PAs for the Win: 2023 Advocacy Update

A great year for the PA Profession

October 10, 2023

During PA Week, we’re reflecting on the progress PAs have achieved toward advancing our legislative agenda this year. AAPA is working hard to remove barriers to PA practice to ensure PAs are in the best possible position to improve patient access to high-quality care. So far this year, 20 states introduced PA-positive legislation, and PA advocates have contacted their legislators more than 40,000 times, urging support for legislation that would improve access to care.

These efforts have not gone unnoticed, leading to significant success at the state levels this year.

3 States Removed the Requirement for a Specific PA/Physician Relationship
In 2023, Iowa, Arizona, and Montana passed bills removing the legal requirement for a PA to have a specific relationship with a physician or other healthcare provider. This brings the total number of states having removed this requirement to six – Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Iowa, and North Dakota!

Any type of legal tether between a PA and another provider can be incredibly burdensome, not only for the provider but also on the health system or facility.

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2 States Adopted the PA Licensure Compact
Utah became the first state to adopt the PA Licensure Compact, followed closely by Delaware.

Seven states will need to adopt the PA Licensure Compact before it can take effect. Once the Compact is operational, eligible PAs will need to complete a single application to receive compact privileges to practice in each Compact state in which they intend to practice. This will make it much easier for PAs to practice in multiple states and most importantly will reduce delays in providing patient care and increase patient access. For more information and resources, visit AAPA’s PA Licensure Compact page.

7 States Adopted Other PA-Positive Changes
Arkansas, Arizona, and Montana adopted legislation affirming that PAs may be directly paid for their services! Allowing PAs to be eligible for direct payment will eliminate an important disparity between PAs and other providers.

Nevada and Oregon added PAs to their state regulatory boards! The Nevada State Board of Medical Examiners will include PA representation on its 11-member board and the Oregon Medical Board, which previously only included one PA representative, will now have two.

Alabama adopted a preceptor tax incentive program to train health professionals, including PAs, in rural and underserved counties and to address primary care shortages in the state.

Florida passed legislation that protects the rights of individuals who have successfully completed their PA education to apply for licensure and ensures that Florida patients can see their chosen providers.

While these achievements are certainly a cause to celebrate, it is crucial we continue to engage in tough conversations about solving the problems within our healthcare system, and the critical role and responsibility PAs have in shaping the future.

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