- Star Grassroots Advocates
- PAEA’s Government Relations team conducted a virtual advocacy training session with students and faculty at the Morehouse School of Medicine PA program on May 23. During the training, students learned about the Association’s key policy priorities as well as opportunities to advocate on behalf of PA education and the profession. Special thanks to Donny Ard, Ph.D., MHA, PA-C for helping to coordinate the lecture!
- Advancing PAEA's Advocacy Agenda
- PAEA submitted written testimony to Senate Labor-HHS on May 6 followed by written testimony to the House Labor-HHS Appropriations subcommittee on May 24 urging appropriators to provide $1.51 billion for HRSA Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs and make further investments in both new and existing Title VII programs such as:
- The Health Careers Opportunity Program,
- Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students,
- Area Health Education Centers,
- Primary Care Training and Enhancement grants, and
- The Rural Maternal and Obstetric Care Training demonstration program.
- On May 10, PAEA, along with the Coalition for Health Funding, Committee for Education Funding, the Campaign to Invest in America's Workforce, and the Coalition on Human Needs shared a letter with the Four Corners of the Appropriations Committees calling for a $239.59 billion FY23 302(b) allocation for the Labor-HHS-Education Subcommittee.
- On May 16, PAEA participated in a Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) meeting with House and Senate Majority/Minority staff to discuss FY23 appropriations priorities.
- PAEA submitted written testimony to Senate Labor-HHS on May 6 followed by written testimony to the House Labor-HHS Appropriations subcommittee on May 24 urging appropriators to provide $1.51 billion for HRSA Title VII health professions and Title VIII nursing workforce development programs and make further investments in both new and existing Title VII programs such as:
- Health Care News in Washington
- On May 4, the Senate Appropriations Labor-HHS subcommittee held a hearing to review the President’s FY23 funding request and budget justification for the Department of Health and Human Services. During the hearing, subcommittee members considered funding priorities shared by PAEA, such as Behavioral Health Workforce Development Programs and the National Health Service Corps.
- On May 9, Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) introduced the Mental Health Reform Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize key programs passed in 2016 under the 21st Century Cures Act, expand access to pediatric mental health and bolster the mental health workforce.
- On May 16, the Department of Health and Human Services extended the COVID-19 public health emergency beyond the current end date of mid-July.
- Opportunities for Action
- Now that the FY 2023 appropriations process is officially underway, it is critical that constituents advocate for strengthened health workforce investments to address provider shortages and their impact on the quality of care delivered to all communities. Please urge Congress to support increased funding for all Title VII health workforce development programs for fiscal year 2023 today.
- PAEA is now accepting applications for the 2022 Student Health Policy Fellowship. If you are interested in developing leadership and advocacy skills to ensure that PA education is represented at the local, state, and national level, apply by 11:59 p.m. ET on July 11. If you would like to learn more, visit PAEA’s Student Health Policy Fellowship page.
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