- Star Grassroots Advocates
- On October 29, 85 students from the Stanford University and George Washington University PA programs conducted 66 congressional meetings to advance the Physician Assistant Higher Education Modernization Act, the Physician Assistant Education Public Health Initiatives Act, and the Student Assisted Vaccination Effort Act. Thank you for your leadership!
- Advancing PAEA’s Advocacy Agenda
- PAEA submitted comments to the Senate Finance Committee in early October in response to a request for information on policy solutions to improve access to mental and behavioral health care. In the letter, PAEA advocated for an expansion of federal Graduate Medical Education funding to support advanced practice provider training and detailed potential improvements to existing health workforce development programs.
- PAEA submitted a statement for the record for a hearing held by the House Education and Labor Higher Education subcommittee on October 6 on the contributions of historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to the nation’s workforce. In the comments, PAEA highlighted ongoing barriers to underrepresented minority students seeking to become PAs and urged the committee to prioritize investments in PA program development at HBCUs.
- Health Care News in Washington
- In late October, the Biden administration announced a new framework for the Build Back Better Act. This social spending proposal builds upon legislation previously considered by congressional committees and includes over $320 million in new resources for health professions education programs to address maternal health disparities in addition to $650 million in new funding for the National Health Service Corps.
- The House Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee held a legislative hearing on October 26 to consider legislation designed to support both current providers and the future health workforce. During the hearing, the committee considered several PAEA-endorsed bills including the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act and the BIO Preparedness Workforce Act. Advancement of this legislation through the subcommittee is anticipated within the next several weeks.
- Opportunities for Action
- As Congress works to finalize the Build Back Better Act, lawmakers must hear from constituents on the critical importance of ensuring the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act is included in a final agreement. Please urge your representatives and senators to support this legislation today.
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