- Star Grassroots Advocates
- In April, 30 PA educators traveled to Capitol Hill and met with 57 congressional offices to help build support for the Physician Assistant Higher Education Modernization Act (H.R. 1685) and the Physician Assistant Education Public Health Initiatives Act (H.R. 1686) during PAEA’s annual Leadership Summit. Thank you for your advocacy!
- Advancing PAEA’s Advocacy Agenda
- PAEA’s Government Relations team submitted testimony to the House Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee in early April on the association’s FY 2020 funding priorities. The testimony specifically requests $25 million in new funding for the Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment program as well as new investments in clinical rotations facilitated through Area Health Education Centers and primary care curriculum development through Primary Care Training and Enhancement grants.
- PAEA submitted a letter of support to the offices of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) for S.1203 - the What You Can Do For Your Country Act. This bill is designed to reform the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program by expanding eligible loan repayment programs qualifying for forgiveness and providing greater flexibility in service commitments that would be newly eligible for partial forgiveness.
- Health Care News in Washington
- Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar testified before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations subcommittee on April 4 on the administration’s FY20 budget request. This budget, as in previous years, proposes the elimination of most Title VII programs, which Congress has rejected in the past two appropriations cycles.
- In early April, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed a slate of legislation intended to lower prescription drug costs, bolster the Affordable Care Act, and strengthen protections for patients with pre-existing conditions.
- Opportunities for Action
- To help build support for H.R. 1685 and H.R. 1686, it is critical that congressional offices hear from their constituents on the impact of these bills in their districts. Please urge your representatives to cosponsor H.R. 1685 and H.R. 1686!
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