- Star Grassroots Advocates
- From September 14-16, PAEA conducted the first virtual Student Health Policy Fellowship for 20 PA students from across the United States. Following the completion of policy and advocacy training, the fellows met with over 35 congressional offices to advocate for the Physician Assistant Higher Education Modernization Act and the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. Thank you for your leadership!
- Advancing PAEA’s Advocacy Agenda
- The House of Representatives passed H.R. 4995, the Maternal Health Quality Improvement Act, in late September. If enacted, this bill would authorize $5 million annually over five years to support interprofessional obstetrics and gynecology clinical rotations in rural areas. PAEA has endorsed the bill and called for expeditious Senate consideration.
- On September 18, PAEA led a joint letter with AAPA to the Health Resources and Services Administration on the National Health Service Corps Students to Service program. In the letter, both organizations urged HRSA to further expand program eligibility to include PA students after a recent expansion to nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife students for the fiscal year 2021 program cycle.
- Health Care News in Washington
- On September 28, House Democratic leadership released an updated iteration of the Heroes Act as its proposal for the next iteration of COVID-19 response legislation. Following community advocacy, the bill contains an additional $800 million for the National Health Service Corps scholarship and loan repayment programs to bolster access to care.
- On September 23, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held a hearing on the ongoing federal response to COVID-19 with representatives from the Department of Health and Human Services.
- Opportunities for Action
- Earlier this year, Representative Lauren Underwood, Representative Alma Adams, and Senator Kamala Harris led the introduction of the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. If enacted, the bill would authorize $15 million annually over five years for PA education and other health professions programs to improve perinatal workforce diversity. Please contact your members of Congress in support of this bill today.
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