Advocacy News Archives

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

Convenient Care Association Voices Support for Eliminating Barriers to Employing PAs

The Convenient Care Association (CCA), the national trade association of companies and healthcare systems that provide consumers with healthcare in retail-based locations, recently voiced its support for eliminating the requirement for a specific relationship between a PA and a physician.

January 14, 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

For Real Change, PAs Must Commit to Advocacy

The past months have proven how effective PAs can be when fewer barriers stand in their way. AAPA President Beth R. Smolko, DMSc, MMS, PA-C, DFAAPA, implores PAs and PA students to become more active advocates in moving the profession forward.

December 21, 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

AAPA Engages Federal Trade Commission Over Proposed Rules in Maine

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sent correspondence to the Maine Board of Licensure in Medicine and the Maine Board of Osteopathic Licensure regarding proposed regulations to implement Maine’s legislation (LD 1660), an Act to Improve Access to Physician Assistant Care.

November 2, 2020

New White Paper Will Help You Understand Transparency Issues

Transparency is at the heart of many AAPA advocacy efforts. Inadequate identification of PAs and the services they provide creates flawed data which inaccurately inform important decisions made by patients, policy makers, payers, researchers, and others. A new white paper highlights these issues.

October 15, 2020

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