News Central

AAPA has prepared an overview to ensure the PA community remains fully informed about the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) on PAs and their patients.

Captain Bechara Rahbani, a physician associate with the U.S. Air Force, fulfilled a long-held dream when he was chosen for a 10-day medical mission in Nuevo Progreso, Guatemala. Rahbani provided much-needed care at the local hospital and in the villages and taught his specialized skills to Guatemalan providers.

From July 14 to August 11, the Physician Associate Foundation will be accepting applications and nominations for its IMPACT Grant program, Josanne Kissel Pagel PAs in Administration Award, William H. Marquardt Community Health Access Award, and new William H. Marquardt Precepting/Mentorship Award.

Over the last several weeks, AAPA submitted a series of comments to multiple agencies addressing topics ranging from anticompetitive practices against PAs to opportunities to improve policies in skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, inpatient psychiatric facilities, and hospice. In addition, AAPA raised attention to regulatory and policy barriers that limit PA practice and impose administrative burdens in letters to HHS, CMS, FDA, and OMB.

From May to July 2025, through letters to HHS, CMS, FDA, and OMB, as well as submissions through CMS and OMB portals, AAPA identified numerous regulatory and policy barriers that arbitrarily and unjustifiably limit PA practice and impose administrative burdens.

In June 2025, AAPA submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) regarding the topics of hospice, skilled nursing facilities, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, and inpatient psychiatric facilities. These comments, in response to annually released proposed rules that make adjustments to the hospice wage index and respective fee schedules, responded directly to inquiries made within the rules, as well as identified policy obstacles faced by PAs in these settings.

In May 2025, AAPA submitted comments to the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) in response to separate, but similar, requests for information (RFIs) regarding the topic of anticompetitive laws and regulations at both the state and federal levels. These comments directly addressed inquiries made within the RFIs and identified obstacles faced by PAs due to anticompetitive measures.

During the three-and-a-half-hour flight from Washington D.C. to Denver, PA Kristin Salter experienced two seizures and had to be rushed to the ICU upon landing. PA Brandon Beattie, Assistant Professor at George Washington University’s PA program and former U.S. Army Medic, responded to the call for medical personnel and helped stabilize her until the paramedics could transfer her to the hospital.