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Yearly Committee Report 2009

Committee Name : Governmental Affairs

Chairperson :  Mark DeSantis, PA-C
Linda Sekhon, MMS, PA-C

Members of the Committee :

Karen Sweeney, PA-C

Bob Lowry, PA-C

Robert Solarczyk, PA-C

Greg Jaques, PA-C

Ron Mezick, PA-C

John Cavenaugh, PA-C, PhD

Robert Emery, PA-C

Esther Klinger, PAC

Joseph Lista, PA-C

Walt Eisenhower,MS PAC

Larry Russell, PA-C

Linda Capelli, PA-C

David Martin, PA-C

Barb Haskell, PA-C

Kathryn Martin, PA-C

Cheryl Green, PA-C

Bill Reynolds, PA-C

Tom Pasquarello, PA-C

Nse Akpe, PA-C

Holly Jodon, PA-C

Bernie Schwartz, PA-C

Cory Sefchick, PA-C

Lane Bower, PA-C

 

Lara Blosser, PA-C

Esther Klinger, PA-C

 

Ex-officio members: President & Board of Directors

Purpose of the Committee : To monitor all health-related legislation and regulatory agency rules and to represent the interest of the PA profession to legislators, health agency authorities, and other health professional organizations. 

Committee Report for 2009 :

 

The Governmental Affairs Committee has seen many ups and downs over the past year, but when all is said and done, this has been a highly successful legislative year for the society and Physician Assistants practicing in Pennsylvania.

It is with great pleasure to report the passage of our prescriptive regulations under osteopathic physicians. FINALLY!! The ability to share this news with Pennsylvania PAs is a great feeling. As you read the regulations, please note that the prescriptive portion is the only section that is new. The remainder of the regulation remains in its’ original form. The osteopathic board only wanted to deal with the prescriptive authority at this time. The PSPA wishes to thank all of the PAs who supported the Society’s endeavor throughout the years in achieving prescriptive privileges under osteopathic supervision.

We continue to work on resolving the Public Utility Commission problem of PAs not being able to certify a patients’ health status to prevent the interruption of their utilities. Our desire is to solve this internally and not have to go through the long regulatory process. We will keep you updated on our progress.

The Emergency Medicine Act Revision was introduced in the summer of 2008 as Senate Bill 1420. The bill covers a multitude of areas including that of physician extenders in the EMS system. The bill passed the senate in July and was signed by the Governor. The Emergency Medicine Council will now promulgate regulations for the ACT. The PSPA will participate in that process. The first public draft should be available by March 2010 according the Council.

Finally, our bill to allow us to certify/sign teachers’ certificates in Pennsylvania has passed the Senate and will proceed to the house in the fall session. Once passed, PAs and Nurse Practitioners will be authorized by the Department of Education to certify the health status of teachers in the Commonwealth.