Federal Archives

New CMS Waiver Provides Additional PA Practice Flexibility

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services yesterday released additional regulatory flexibilities in response to the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. The new waiver authorizes PAs to deliver visits to Medicare beneficiaries in a skilled nursing facility previously required to be provided by physicians.

April 10, 2020

AAPA Asks Secretary Wilkie, Veterans Health Administration for Full Practice Authority for PAs at VA

During COVID-19 Pandemic, AAPA calls on Secretary of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration leadership to permanently ensure the VA’s PA workforce is empowered to practice to the top of their education, training and experience.

April 3, 2020

Department of Health and Human Services Urges Governors to Remove Barriers to PA-Provided Care during COVID-19 Response

In a letter sent to all 50 governors, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar urged governors to extend the capacity of their states’ healthcare workforces, including PAs, to address the COVID-19 pandemic.

April 2, 2020

Dr. Heather Prichard instructs Dr. Shawn Gage and Dr. Jeffrey Lawson on opening the packaging

CMS Removes Unnecessary Administrative and Regulatory Requirements for PAs, Other Health Professionals

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) initiated another round of regulatory relief on March 30 aimed at increasing the ability of PAs, other health professionals and hospitals to deliver needed care to patients during the COVID-19 crisis.

April 1, 2020

AAPA Won’t Rest Until PAs are Fully Empowered to Respond to COVID-19

What is AAPA doing to respond to the COVID-19 crisis? We are aggressively advocating on behalf of PAs and their patients, providing members with important resources, and raising public awareness about the profession.

March 31, 2020

Federal COVID-19 Emergency Legislation Authorizes PAs to Order Home Health Services

President signs legislation authorizing PAs and NPs to order home healthcare services for Medicare patients (in a manner consistent with state law). With the ability to order home health services, PAs can help to free up hospital beds for COVID-19 patients.

March 27, 2020

AAPA Commends Senate for Including Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act in COVID-19 Emergency Legislation

AAPA applauds the U.S. Senate for passing the Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act (S. 296/H.R. 2150) as an inclusion in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act or the “CARES Act” (H.R. 748).

March 26, 2020

CMS Expands Medicare Telemedicine Coverage

CMS announced expanded Medicare telehealth coverage to enable beneficiaries to receive a wider range of healthcare services without having to travel to an office, clinic or health care facility. Previously, Medicare was only allowed to pay health professionals for telemedicine services in certain situations.

March 18, 2020

PAs Advance the Profession at the Federal Level in 2019

From their efforts to authorize PAs to receive direct payment under Medicare to ordering and certifying the need for home health and diabetic shoes under Medicare, PAs advocated to advance the profession in 2019 and have more work ahead in 2020.

January 17, 2020

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