Illinois Chapter Renews Practice Law and Removes Barriers to Care

In 2015, PAs in Illinois were facing major challenges. The profession was losing ground in the marketplace and would soon face the sunset of the law authorizing PA practice in the entire state. Concerned about the direction that their profession was heading, the Illinois Academy of PAs decided to undertake a major overhaul of their organization and advocacy efforts.

PAs Vote to Investigate Changing Their Professional Title

At the annual conference of the American Academy of PAs (AAPA), members of its House of Delegates voted to investigate the feasibility of changing the PA (physician assistant) title, along with potential alternatives that better reflect modern PA practice.

DC Board of Medicine Removes Unnecessary Barrier to PA Practice

The District of Columbia’s (D.C.) Board of Medicine (BoMed) recently modernized and streamlined PA practice.   In a post on its website, BoMed announced that it will no longer issue letters “approving” delegation agreements. Effective immediately, receipt of delegation agreements will simply be confirmed via email.

New Maryland Law Authorizes PAs to Prepare and Dispense Medications

On May 8, 2018, Gov. Larry Hogan signed HB 591/SB 549 into law. The legislation, which becomes effective on Oct. 1, 2018, was a priority bill for the Maryland Academy of PAs (MAPA) and authorizes PAs to prepare and dispense medications they can already prescribe within their scope of practice. 

Tennessee PAs Achieve Collaboration

Tennessee PAs are celebrating the enactment of SB 1515 (companion bill HB 2239) which was signed by Gov. Bill Haslam on April 2. The legislation changes the terminology used to describe the manner in which PAs and physicians practice together from "supervision" to "collaboration."

Healthcare Access Stalled at Red Cliff Reservation

PA Khou Xiong’s patients experienced an interruption in care when the health center she works for unexpectedly lost its physician medical director. Read how modernizing PA-practice laws could improve the status quo for PA Xiong and PAs in similar situations across the country.

The Future of PA Practice Authority

Staff Care interviewed Ann Davis, MS, PA-C, vice president of constituent organization and advocacy for AAPA, about where the PA profession is headed an the future of PA practice authority. 

PAs Benefit From Foundation Scholarships

The PA Foundation’s scholarship program has awarded almost $2.3 million in scholarships to PA students, benefitting more than 1,400 future PAs. Meredith Quinene, a PA and educator, received a PA Foundation scholarship in 2002 and used it as a springboard for a successful career.