Advocacy News Archives

AAPA Comments on Critical Medicare Payment Proposals

PAs are positioned to achieve a significant policy victory as the Medicare program proposes to authorize direct payment to PAs. In the proposed 2022 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) rule CMS announced plans to give PAs the ability to directly receive payment when treating Medicare patients.

September 17, 2021

New Hampshire Eliminates Ratios Through Newly Adopted Rules

The New Hampshire Board of Medicine recently adopted amendments to the PA regulations that made significant improvements to PA practice in the state. The regulatory changes were the result of hard work by the New Hampshire Society of PAs (NHSPA) and AAPA.

August 26, 2021

PAs Share Experiences of COVID-19 Impacts on Patients With SUD

In December of 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data that showed overdose deaths accelerated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Two PAs who work with this patient population shared their experiences and perspectives.

August 19, 2021

Medicare Moves to Implement PA Direct Pay

PAs moved one step closer to being eligible to be paid directly under the Medicare program when the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued PA direct payment authorizing language in the 2022 proposed Physician Fee Schedule.

July 20, 2021

Connecticut 2021 Legislative Session Ends with Major Wins for PAs and Patients

ConnAPA’s top legislative priority in 2021 recently became law, adding PAs to almost 80 areas of state law which only previously mentioned physicians and/or nurse practitioners. Connecticut law also now authorizes PAs and NPs to order home health and hospice care.

July 20, 2021

More Barriers to PA Practice Fall as Florida PAs Celebrate Legislative Win

PAs in Florida applaud the enactment of legislation that makes significant improvements to PA practice. House Bill 431 was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis on June 29, modernizing several aspects of PA regulation.

June 30, 2021

Tennessee PAs Successful in Quest to Create a PA Board

The Tennessee Academy of Physician Assistants secured a significant win for PAs in the state last month. On May 26, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee signed HB 1080, which establishes the Board of PAs – a tenet of Optimal Team Practice.

June 29, 2021

Oregon Governor Signs Legislation Replacing Physician Supervision with Collaborative Practice Environment

Oregon Governor Kate Brown recently signed legislation modernizing state statutes to reflect the collaborative way PAs provide patient care and making PAs responsible for the care they provide. The bill also made permanent changes to PA use of telehealth authorized during the pandemic.

June 28, 2021

Rule Change Provides More Flexibility to PAs Ordering Diabetic Shoes

Due to 2020 policy changes, PAs, in certain circumstances, are now allowed to order therapeutic shoes. While the ability to order diabetic shoes is now somewhat more permissive, the practice is still cumbersome and continues to contain unnecessary restrictions on PAs.

May 21, 2021

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