US House Rep Karen Bass's office released the following earlier this week:
Bass Reintroduces Legislation To Address Physician Assistant Educational Needs
March 12, 2019
Press Release
WASHINGTON
– Today, Representative Karen Bass (D-Calif.) reintroduced two pieces
of legislation to help Physician Assistants (PAs) and aspiring Physician
Assistants across the country. The two bills will make sure that people
who want to become Physician Assistants have the ability to
successfully do so.
"PAs across the nation are providing high-quality healthcare to patients in both our largest cities and in America's most rural areas," said Rep. Bass. "In the next decade the demand for PAs is only going to increase and Congress needs to act today to make sure that we have the qualified health care professionals ready to meet the growing need."
More information about the bills:
The "Physician Assistant Education Public Health Initiatives Act of 2019" would authorize a demonstration to expand access to federally qualified health centers and other underserved settings for PA clinical training and reauthorize the Primary Care Training and Enhancement grant program to direct more PA graduates to primary care practice. It will also fund research into PA education to ensure students are best equipped to provide high-quality care to patients. You can read the bill here.
The "Physician Assistant Higher Education Modernization Act of 2019" will work to ensure qualified individuals receive the education they need to complete their studies to become a PA. The legislation will improve federal borrowing terms for PA students by adjusting the annual unsubsidized Direct loan limit for PA students, develop a program to expand PA education programs for institutions that serve rural areas, make Historically Black Colleges and Universities eligible to receive additional grants for PA education programs, and provide funding to colleges and universities to improve the faculty and modernize technology at institutions that are educating and training PAs. You can read the bill here.
