- Star Grassroots Advocates
- On December 9, PAEA hosted the first virtual advocacy day for the George Washington University PA program. Participating students conducted over 70 meetings with congressional offices in support of the Physician Assistant Higher Education Modernization Act and the Strengthening America’s Health Care Readiness Act. Thank you for your leadership and advocacy!
- Advancing PAEA’s Advocacy Agenda
- On December 27, President Trump signed a combined fiscal year 2021 omnibus and COVID-19 relief bill into law. Thanks in part to the continuous advocacy of the PA education community, the law includes a number of priorities for PA programs, faculty, and students, including additional emergency aid to institutions of higher education, funding increases for Title VII programs, and a two-year extension of mandatory National Health Service Corps funding.
- On December 2, PAEA sent a letter to congressional leadership on the detrimental impact of allowing the current suspension of payments and interest accrual on federally-held student loans to lapse. In the absence of congressional or administrative action, the current suspension will expire at the end of January.
- Health Care News in Washington
- As a component of the year-end spending bill signed on December 27, Congress authorized Medicare to provide direct payment for PA services. This long-standing aim of the American Academy of PAs will take effect on January 1, 2022.
- In addition to changes in PA payment policy, the year-end spending bill also included a negotiated surprise billing reform measure which seeks to hold patients harmless for expenses incurred as a result of unanticipated out-of-network care. This measure will also take effect in 2022.
- Opportunities for Action
- PAEA is soliciting faculty members interested in being nominated for a seat on the Department of Health and Human Services Advisory Committee on Minority Health. To learn more about this opportunity, click here. Applications will be due by January 20.
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