Advocacy News Archives

American Academy of PAs Responds to MedPAC’s Report on Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System

Last week, MedPAC released its June 2019 Report to the Congress: Medicare and the Health Care Delivery System, which included a recommendation to eliminate “incident to” billing for PAs (physicians assistants) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) under the Medicare program.

June 17, 2019

South Carolina Set to Modernize PA Practice

In August, an updated law will be enacted in South Carolina that will expedite PA entry into the healthcare workforce by streamlining licensure processes and removing archaic, extraneous requirements that serve no public protection role.

June 5, 2019

CO Awards Recognize Three Organizations for Outstanding Programs

AAPA’s Outreach and Advocacy Awards honors organizations for their outstanding programs, projects, and initiatives. This year, the Association of PAs in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, the Society of Point of Care Ultrasound, and the Ohio Association of PAs received awards for their exemplary contributions to the profession.

May 23, 2019

Indiana PAs Celebrate Upcoming Enactment of “Collaboration” Legislation

In July, Indiana will enact a new law that will make it the ninth state to move away from the term “supervision” to describe PA practice. The law also makes several changes to PA prescriptive authority.

May 17, 2019

Idaho Adds PA to State Medical Board

Idaho Governor Brad Little has signed legislation that will add a PA to the Idaho State Board of Medicine. The Idaho Academy of PAs has sought this change for several years, and Idaho has now successfully achieved a component of OTP.

April 25, 2019

PAs Across America Celebrate First State With Key Components of Optimal Team Practice Following the Legislative Victory in North Dakota

Newly signed North Dakota legislation eliminates the requirement that a PA have an agreement with a specific physician in most settings for nearly all PAs in the state.

April 9, 2019

West Virginia PAs Achieve Significant Progress Toward OTP

New West Virginia law removes the requirement for PAs who work in hospitals to have agreements with specific physicians in order to practice. The law also removes physician responsibility for PA-provided care.

April 4, 2019

Q and A on PA Reimbursement for Medicare Hospice Services

Starting in January, PAs, like physicians and NPs, are permitted to provide, manage, and have hospice services reimbursed by Medicare. This enables PAs to establish and review a hospice patient’s plan of care. However, obstacles to PA practice under hospice remain.

March 27, 2019

PAs in Virginia Attain Collaboration

Virginia Gov. Ralph S. Northam signed into law legislation that authorizes PAs to practice "in collaboration and consultation" with patient care team physicians (or podiatrists). This was a priority bill for the Virginia Academy of PAs and becomes effective July 1, 2019.

March 1, 2019

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