AAPA

How would you advocate for AAPA to ensure PAs remain in the forefront of this current health care reform environment?

Sandra Keavey, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA

"With the recent election of a Republican senator in the state of Massachusetts the status of health care reform is uncertain to say the least. Whether the moment for reform has been lost or simply headed down a new path is unknown. Will Congress start from scratch or abandon reform and continue business as usual?
Regardless the PA profession must continue to advocate for our patients and our profession. How? The same as always. We need to continue our dialogue with state and congressional representatives as a group and as individuals to continue or re-ignite health care reform. With our professional colleagues we must continue to work together to improve access to care, remove disparities and work to prevent the opportunity for meaningful reform from dying from political infighting.
In America the political process is how change occurs. We must continue to be part of the squeaky wheel that advocates for change that increases access to care and decreases barriers to practice. Send examples to your legislative representatives of situations that have resulted in a decreased access to care for a patient or provide a barrier to your ability to practice. Give them ammunition to use to advocate on our and our patients behalf. Stay aware of what your state licensing and regulatory boards are proposing that might affect your ability to care for patients.

The fight for health care reform is lost if WE abandon our voice and quit pursuing the goal of health care for all."

As the nation focuses on health care reform, PA Pro NOW dedicated an entire week to this issue. Each AAPA General Election candidate (in alphabetical order by office) will respond to the health care reform question shown above.

Want to know more from the candidates? Post your own question or comment related to PAs and health care reform.