Thumbs Up: Obama lists PAs among heroic health care professionals working with America’s children on July 20

Why: AAPA's many weeks of fighting for equal billing for PAs among America’s health care providers essential to successful health reform has paid off. At the National Children’s Medical Center (CNMC), the president convened a roundtable discussion on the impact of our current system on children and their families seeking medical care. Though it was billed by the media as a convening of doctors and nurses, we know that AAPA member Kathleen Quigley, who works as a surgical PA at CNMC attended the event. Immediately following, the president made televised remarks to the public on the discussion and the subsequent need for health care reform. He mentioned PAs as valuable health care providers – twice. Read the full transcript of his remarks.

Thumbs up: President Obama’s Nomination of Dr. Regina Benjamin for Surgeon General

Why: In addition to her work with the underserved in a rural health clinic in Ala., Dr. Benjamin has long demonstrated support and understanding of PA profession. Currently, she employs and works closely with a PA and AAPA member at the La Batre Rural Health Clinic. Most recently, Dr. Benjamin was featured as a keynote speaker at a February 2009 AAPA conference for constituent organization leaders during her tenure as Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards in 2008-2009. She spoke about the physician-PA team, the important roles of professional organizations working together, the initiatives of the Federation that were important to PAs and PA practice, and the work to be done by all health professionals to assure access to care and the elimination of disparities of all kinds.

Thumbs up: Favorable Progression of Bill Essential to Improving Care for American Veterans

Why: H.R. 1302 calls for a full-time Director of Physician Assistant Services within the office of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health and improves the availability and quality of medical care to our nation’s veteran population. On July 15, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs favorably reported a bill introduced by Chairman Bob Filner (D-CA) which rolls nine bills , including H.R. 1302, into a larger bill that is expected to be considered by the House before the congressional recess. H.R. 1302 ensures that the more than 1,800 PAs employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs are fully utilized, lifting unnecessary restrictions that impedes the ability of PAs to provide medical care in VA facilities. AAPA fully supports policies and programs that eliminate health disparities and ensure access to quality, affordable and cost-efficient care for our all Americans including our nation’s veterans.

Thumbs up: National Institute of Health Issues New Stem Cell Guidelines

Why: The new guidelines broaden the eligibility of many older stem cell lines to be used for finding cures for diseases that have thus far proved to be incurable. To fully realize the enormous potential benefits in medical research and human healing, AAPA believes that the use of human embryonic stem cell research, including the use of nuclear transplantation techniques, must be fully supported. AAPA’s policy on stem cell research is based on the desire to promote the intense, vigorous and responsible scientific research that will be necessary to realize the potential medical benefits of using stem cells to treat disease and repair tissue damaged by disease or trauma. See full press release here.

Thumbs Up: AAPA met with Ezekiel J. "Zeke" Emanuel, MD Special Advisor for health policy to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget July 6

Why: Dr. Emanuel was very welcoming to the AAPA representatives and very positive about the profession. AAPA CEO Bill Leinweber, Vice President and Speaker of the House Bill Fenn, and Director of Federal Affairs Sandra Harding began by asking what the PA profession can do to assist broadly with health reform and sought his counsel on how to best advance the profession within that context. Dr. Emanuel was very forthright in saying that health reform will only be successful with the contributions of PAs.

Much of the meeting was devoted to answering Dr. Emanuel’s questions about the profession, PA education and training, and their role in the medical workforce. He also was aware of the dismay the many PAs felt about not being mentioned by the President in the health care discourse. It was clear that the nearly 8,000 emails sent by AAPA members had indeed been noticed and generated a reaction. To that end, Dr. Emanuel’s office has written a memo about the health care workforce to the President. Dr. Emanuel was very clear that the omission should be viewed as nothing more than an oversight, while recognizing the problem it presents the profession.

Read Bill Fenn’s write-up of the event on Facebook.

Thumbs Up: AAPA participated in White House Office of Health Reform Meeting July 2

Why: AAPA was one of a select group of health care provider organizations invited to meet with Nancy-Ann DeParle, Director of the White House Office of Health Reform, on Thursday, July 2, to discuss solutions for primary care. AAPA was represented by AAPA CEO Bill Leinweber, Government Affairs and Reimbursement Committee chair Jim Carney and board member Dan Thibodeau.

The discussion centered around preventive care, access, coordinated primary care, quality of care, payment, and the need to recognize all primary care providers as solutions to the health care crisis facing our country today. Other provider groups invited included nurse practitioners, nurse midwives, psychologists, dental hygienists, optometrists, pharmacists and primary care physicians.

AAPA is pleased to have participated in this discussion and to have shared with the White House Office of Health Reform and others the crucial role PAs play on the health care team. AAPA looks forward to continuing this dialogue as President Obama and his administration work toward a health care solution.