News Central

AAPA Comments to Education Department: Student Loan Exceeds Statutory Authority, Redefines H.R. 1’s “Professional Degree”

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), representing approximately the nation’s 190,000 physician associates/physician assistants (PAs), formally submitted public comments to the U.S. Department of Education opposing its proposed federal student loan rule under the Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) framework.

February 26, 2026

Arizona Becomes 22nd Compact State in Second RHTP-driven Win for PAs

Arizona has officially become the 22nd state to enact legislation joining the PA Licensure Compact and fulfilling a promise the state made in its application for Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funds.

February 24, 2026

What’s at Stake: Fighting for PA Access to Student Loans

Since the announcement of the Department of Education’s proposed cap on federal student loans, AAPA has received nearly 2,000 of stories from PAs, PA students, and pre-PAs describing how essential federal loans are to affording PA education and how the Department’s proposed rule would disrupt the PA workforce pipeline. This article is the second in a special AAPA News Central series, “What’s at Stake: Fighting for PA Access to Student Loans.”

February 20, 2026

PA Justice Gray Wrote a Picture Book to Encourage Self-Acceptance in her Patients

Justice Gray, a physician associate in psychiatry, encourages her young patients and kids everywhere to accept themselves just as they are through her picture book, “What is Normal Anyway? Because the Best Kind of Normal is Being You.”

February 19, 2026

Advocacy in Action: Momentum Continues

We are well into the 2026 legislative season at the federal and state levels, and momentum continues to build for PA practice modernization across the country. Your AAPA Advocacy & External Affairs team is working around the clock to support these efforts.

February 18, 2026

What’s at Stake: Fighting for PA Access to Student Loans

Since the announcement of the Department of Education’s proposed cap on federal student loans, AAPA has received nearly 2,000 of stories from PAs, PA students, and pre-PAs describing how essential federal loans are to affording PA education and how the Department’s proposed rule would disrupt the PA workforce pipeline. This article is the first in a special AAPA News Central series, “What’s at Stake: Fighting for PA Access to Student Loans.”

February 13, 2026

Physicians, Nurses, and Healthcare Leaders Rally Behind Legislation to Improve Maine’s PA Practice Environment

This week, physician associates (PAs), physicians, nurses, and healthcare leaders across Maine provided compelling testimony in support of LD 2088, landmark legislation that would modernize the state’s PA practice environment by removing the requirement for a formal practice agreement with a physician.

February 6, 2026

AAPA Applauds HHS Investment to Expand Addiction Treatment

The American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) applauds the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) announcement of a $100 million federal investment to expand addiction treatment, recovery, and homelessness services across the country.

February 4, 2026

North Dakota Enacts PA Compact in First Rural Health Transformation Program Inspired Win of 2026

North Dakota has joined the growing list of states enacting the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact.

February 4, 2026