Advocacy News Archives

Learn About Significant Policy Changes in 2021 Essential Guide to PA Reimbursement

Many significant policy changes to PA practice occurred over the past year. AAPA is providing updated information about those changes in the 2021 edition of the Essential Guide to PA Reimbursement, now available for purchase.

March 15, 2021

PAs Recognized as Vital to Nationwide COVID-19 Vaccine Administration

An amendment to the Public Readiness and Emergency Preparedness (PREP) Act declaration reaffirms PAs are instrumental in the national fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and are recognized by the Federal government as essential to vaccination efforts through increased vaccination authorization.

March 12, 2021

Utah PA Shares Experience Facing Outdated Laws and Red Tape

After Utah PA Wade Anderson’s supervising physician died from COVID-19, outdated state laws left him unable to care for his patients, as the Utah Academy of PAs works to advance PA modernization legislation.

February 26, 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

PA State Chapters Persevere in 2020 to Achieve Improvements for Profession

In a year of unprecedented disruption, PA state chapters persevered in 2020 to achieve great improvements for the PA profession. Due to COVID-19, PAs around the country adapted their advocacy plans to pursue temporary and permanent change to respond to COVID-19.

January 29, 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

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

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