Throughout the last decade, there has been a significant increase in the number of PA programs paying for clinical training sites, leading to a notable rise in the cost of PA education. To reverse this trend and ensure that PA programs can produce enough PA graduates to meet the current demand for health care providers in the areas they are needed most, PAEA has been advocating for policy remedies at both the federal and state level. That is why we are asking you to reach out to your congressional representatives today in support of the Primary Care Team Education Centers Act.

The Primary Care Team Education Centers Act, recently introduced by Senator Tim Kaine, builds upon the successful model of the Teaching Health Center program for physicians by expanding clinical education opportunities at federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and similar settings for PA and other health professions students. This innovative legislation will be crucial for bolstering the pipeline of primary care providers and ensuring that PA students have access to high-quality clinical training experiences. Key goals of the bill include:

• Establishing and expanding Primary Care Team Education Centers to train new health professionals,
• Developing or enhancing partnerships with institutions of higher education and health care organizations to address clinical faculty, clinical site, and clinical preceptor shortages for health care professionals,
• Supporting health professional student training in primary care, and
• Prioritizing grants that address training in health professional shortages and those that support preceptor development.

Your voice matters in advocating for this important legislation that will positively impact the future of PA education and address healthcare disparities in underserved communities. Please contact your elected officials in Congress and urge them to support the Primary Care Team Education Centers Act.