Federal Archives

New Guidelines for Buprenorphine Treatment Provide Exemption to Burdensome Training Requirements

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has released new buprenorphine practice guidelines providing an exemption to the requirement for PAs to obtain 24 hours of training prior to treating patients with buprenorphine – a major barrier to treatment for PA patients.

April 28, 2021

PAs Secure Strengthened PA Practice and Expanded Patient CARE Under Medicare in 2020

Given the significant impact of COVID-19, most of Congress’ attention in 2020 was paid to pandemic response and relief efforts. AAPA lobbying efforts to demonstrate the importance of the profession to Congress, along with grassroots advocacy from individual PAs, were instrumental in advancing PA-friendly proposals in 2020.

February 3, 2021

AAPA, AANP Ask HHS to Amend New Guidelines for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment

AAPA and AANP have submitted a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar, in response to the recent HHS notice of “Practice Guidelines for the Administration of Buprenorphine for Treating Opioid Use Disorder.”

January 15, 2021

Coronavirus Relief & Omnibus Agreement Authorizes PAs to Receive Direct Payment Under Medicare

AAPA commends the U.S Congress for passing legislation authorizing PAs to receive direct payment under Medicare as part of the Coronavirus Relief & Omnibus Agreement. The PA Direct Payment Act (S.596/H.R. 1052) will take effect January 1, 2022.

December 28, 2020

CMS Releases 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Rule

As part of the final 2021 Physician Fee Schedule, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) permanently authorized PAs to supervise clinical staff who perform diagnostic tests for Medicare beneficiaries.

December 2, 2020

CMS Mandatory Reporting Program to Include PAs

Starting January 1, 2021, PAs are required to be included in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments program. Open Payments is a national disclosure database aimed at improving transparency about financial relationships on a public website.

November 18, 2020

VA Establishes Path to Potentially Adopt Full Practice Authority for PAs

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued an interim final rule that could serve as a step towards authorizing PAs working at the VA to be granted full practice authority. The rule confirms the VA’s authority to establish national standards of practice.

November 16, 2020

VA Implements Competitive Pay, Other Advances in PA Practice

AAPA applauds the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for releasing an updated PA Handbook which implements competitive pay for PAs along with other changes related to the PA profession that will modernize the VA’s qualification standards for PAs and expand access to care to our nation’s veterans.

October 9, 2020

CMS Authorizes PAs to Deliver Limited Care to Patients in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) recently finalized a policy change authorizing PAs to deliver limited care to patients in inpatient rehabilitation facilities. In June, AAPA asked CMS for a rule change authorizing PAs to perform all required physician visits.

September 21, 2020

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