Presidents report on the Capitol Conference -- March 2009

On February 22, 2010, Shari Combe (president-elect) and I had the opportunity to attend training sessions in Washington D.C. in preparation for visits with our congressional delegation on Capitol Hill. Scott Frischknecht, a great Utah PA and the current chair of the AAPA Political Action Committee, and Connie Goldgar, a representative of the Utah Physician Assistant Program, joined us on visits to both the Senate and House of Representatives where we left information on behalf of the AAPA on issues relating to health care legislation.

One proposal, the inclusion of Physician Assistants in the treatment of Federal employees with occupational injuries, would amend the Federal Health Care Act that was enacted prior to Physician Assistants becoming a profession. Another significant issue is to maintain the fifteen percent allocation that is in the current Senate version of health care reform. Also proposed is that Physician Assistants be included as primary care providers for end of life services. This is currently under House review. These are the only issues AAPA has taken an official position on in the current health care debate.

Our Congressional representatives were very much in favor of these proposals. We hope to have some significant changes to benefit our state and profession in the coming months.

Thanks for all that all of you do in support of our state and profession.

Alan