Originally published Summer Newsletter 2024. Written by Sarah Adams, PA-C, ConnAPA Immediate Past President.
On September 11th almost 200 PAs, PA students, AAPA staffers and legislative champions swarmed the capital in the name of advocacy. Meetings were held across the capital with State Representatives, Senators and/or their knowledgeable staffers to discuss S.131/H.R.618 Updating the Federal Workers’ Compensation Program to Include PAs and H.R. 7665/S. 3939 Accountable Care Organization (ACO) Assignment Improvement Act.
The Federal Workers Compensation Program to Include PAs was passed in the House during the last Congress with an overwhelming bipartisan majority and was unanimously reported out to the Education and Workforce Committee in June of 2024. Currently, PAs are included as eligible providers under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) to provide healthcare to beneficiaries in medical, surgical, and hospital settings; however, not following injuries sustained on the job. This antiquated restriction causes unnecessary delays in patient access to care and costly burdens to the healthcare system and delays return to workforce.
The ACO Assignment Improvement Act was new to discussions this year. This bill would allow PAs to continue to serve as the primary provider for patients within an accountable care organization (ACO) and eliminating the need for them to be seen by a physician within a time period in order to remain within the ACO. Removing this unnecessary restriction is vital to continuing the established PA relationship while reducing administrative burdens at the practice level. Ultimately, this allows for more efficient and cost-effective and centric patient care. This piece of legislation is particularly impactful in settings where PAs are the primary medical provider such as in rural settings, long term care facilities, and underserved communities.
Support of the PA profession was tangible during these meetings. Our Connecticut Representatives and Senators truly understand the benefits of PAs within the healthcare team and the role we play with increasing access to valuable and efficient patient care in our state. With that said, the legislative landscape is busy and the healthcare agenda robust. Sharing specific patient stories and provider experiences allowed them to understand the relevance of supporting these bills and the impact it would create back home in our communities.
The meetings often wrapped up with the staffer/legislator asking: what’s happening with the PAs in Connecticut these days? What are the concerns or what can we do to support you in your practice? This was a valuable opportunity to review the PA license compact, title change and the continued desire to remove unnecessary, burdensome barriers for us to practice to the full extent of our training within the healthcare team.
These few days offered an opportunity to network with our fellow PAs and engage the PA students attending in the importance of advocacy in the profession, all serving the underlying purpose to expand our patients’ access to high quality care. Keep your voices loud and proud about what YOU do every day and remember, if you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu. #PAsGoBeyond
