During National PA Week, AAPA Raises Awareness of Legislative Challenges Preventing PAs from Treating Medicare Patients
As members of Congress debate what form a national health care plan should take, older Americans continue to suffer the consequences of a physician shortage that makes accessing basic care a struggle. Barriers to care could be greatly eased, however, by legislation that lifts restrictions preventing physician assistants (PAs) from treating Medicare patients.
PAs are licensed health professionals who practice medicine as members of a PA-physician team and are qualified to provide much of the same basic care as physicians. In many underserved communities, PAs are the only health providers for many miles and provide the bulk of primary care to residents. However, current laws limit their ability to provide much-needed services to Medicare patients, like ordering home health care or durable medical equipment. Passing legislation that lifts these restrictions could substantially reduce wait times for medical appointments, reduce travel for seniors who are ill, ease crowded waiting rooms and significantly improve the health of older Americans.
"Regardless of how health care reform unfolds, the physician shortage will continue to present real challenges in delivering care to America," said Stephen H. Hanson, president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, which this week celebrates National Physician Assistants' (PA) Week. "The PA profession was created so that even in areas where doctors are few, patients can have access to quality care. Unfortunately, Medicare patients are denied this care because of outdated laws and unnecessary restrictions on a group of providers that stands ready to meet their needs."
Rancho/USC California Alzheimer's Disease Center stands as a model for how PAs can help expand services to seniors by working with an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses and therapists. The practice specializes in diagnosing, treating and caring for people with Alzheimer's and other memory problem disorders.