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I am pleased to announce that, in 2009, many of our members have made visits to our PA-friendly legislators as well as some new legislators who hold important positions on house and senates committees that greatly affect our practice issues. Thanks to Linda Sekhon, Chris Lindberg, Bob Lowry, Joe Lista, Anny Jacobson and Rick Calla for meeting with our law makers and taking the time to inform them of our profession and how relevant legislation impacts the medical care of Pennsylvanians.


Rep. Todd Eachus – House Democratic Leader with Barb Haskell		 Rep. Sam Smith – House Republican Leader with Tom Lemley

Sen. Joseph Scarnati – President Pro Tempore of the Senate and President of the Senate with Barb Haskell

Society Members Have Adventures In Lobbying on Capitol Hill

On February 25 and 26, Physician Assistants (and one PA student) participated in the AAPA’s program, “Adventures in Lobbying.” Laura Wildman, Bernard Stuetz, Luis Ramos, Barbara Haskell, Heidi Felix, Carl Garrubba and Sheldon Ferrette had the opportunity to attend a day of lectures and workshops aimed at helping us to effectively lobby members of the House and Senate regarding our federal agenda. The following day, all of us took turns visiting the offices of Senators Robert Casey, Jr. and Arlen Specter and Representatives Todd Platts, Tim Murphy, Mike Doyle, Paul Kanjorski, and Tim Holden.

Our message was to ask for the support of those congressmen for four current items. First, there is a need to update the Federal Workers’ Compensation Program to allow PAs to diagnose and treat injured federal workers. Currently, we cannot do this. Also, we asked our legislators to restore Title VII funding which supports Health Professions Programs, including PA educational programs as these funds have been cut drastically in recent years. These funds allow for training of PAs in medically underserved areas as well as recruitment of disadvantaged and underrepresented minority students. Another issue involves the position of Director of PA Services as a full time position in the Veterans Administration Central Office. Currently this position is only part time. As such, many policy issues regarding PAs in the VA system are made without a PA advisor’s presence. There has been misinformation about our scope of practice and appropriate utilization within the VA and such a full time position for a PA is necessary to correct this. Finally, we asked these congressmen to support the Physician Assistants Continuity of Care Act which amends Medicare to allow PAs to order home health, skilled nursing facility care and hospice care as well as provide hospice care. As it is currently written, PAs cannot do any of these.

Our visible presence in Washington as constituents of these representatives and senators provided a valuable message. It is our hope that such lobbying on our part will effect the changes to the above legislation. Stay tuned for updates on these important issues that affect they way that we as PAs practice!

November 1, 2007, Washington D.C.Congressional Visit Program, Attended by PSPA Members

On November 1, Linda Sekhon and I spent a day on Capitol Hill in Washington D.C. visiting the offices of five United States Senators or Representatives. Our purpose was to discuss current federal legislative issues that affect physician assistants and to educate these legislators about the need to pass certain bills that will remove unnecessary obstacles so that we can serve our patients adequately. With the guidance and direction of our AAPA lobbyist, Ann Walter-Jenkins, we had an extremely interesting, educational and productive day on the Hill!

We were able to meet with a staffer for Senator Arlen Specter to talk about the vital issue of restoring Title VII funding to physician assistant programs. This funding has seen enormous cuts in recent years. We relayed that such money is crucial to support our efforts to train PAs in primary care who will then spend their careers caring for those many underserved populations in Pennsylvania. Addtionally, since Senator Specter historically is an advocate of our nation’s veterans, we also presented an issue that deals with the Veterans Administration. Our hope is to have a full time PA in an advisory role with the V.A. as so many PAs practice in this enormous system. Currently, only a part time position exists. Our presentation was very well-received.

A staffer for Representative Phil English entertained our comments regarding revising the current Medicare law that restricts PAs from ordering home health, skilled nursing facility care or hospice for patients who receive Medicare benefits. This is a huge continuity of care issue and Representative English has already worked to help us achieve a goal toward this end.

Linda and I had some personal connections with Congressmen Jason Altmire and Todd Platts, respectively, through shared geography. We had opportunities to meet directly with these legislators who were cordial and receptive to hearing our professional stories of how the Medicare and federal workers compensation issues affect Pennsylvania PAs in daily practice.

Finally, Congressman Mike Doyle’s staffer gave us a bit of a grilling on our request of his support for the full time PA advisor within the Veterans Administration. I am proud of Linda and Ann for providing clear and direct responses to his tough questions which will hopefully be passed onto Mr. Doyle, convincing him of the importance for this position.

For detailed fact sheets on these legislative issues, go to the AAPA website and click on professional issues and then on federal issues and finally on federal legislative fact sheets. Our national organization is working hard and working well to advocate for our profession! It was a privilege to learn from their staff on how to, as I like to say, “positively change legislation through education.”

2007

This past year, Barbara Haskell attended receptions for Speaker Emeritus John Perzel, and congressmen DeWeese and Scarnati.  Their continued support of PA-friendly legislation has helped to maximize our ability to care for Pennsylvanis citizens.  Barbara extended her appreciation to these legislators on behalf of all practicing PAs in the commonwealth

September, 2006

During the recent annual PSPA conference, a group of society members took time out of their busy schedules to help educate key legislators on the PA profession and thank them for their support of our new allopathic regulations. The morning included a breakfast where the legislators were able to meet and talk with a PA constituent from their region. Afterwards, the group traveled to the Capitol for meetings with the remainder of the assembly. Everyone was warmly welcomed and key interest was shown regarding our profession. If you are interested in making legislative visits in your area, please contact the Society office.

December 6, 2005

(From left to right) Mark Desantis, PA-C, Tom Lemley, PA-C, Representative Thomas P. Gannon, Meagan Renninger, PA-C Attend legislative reception on December 6, 2005. Representative Gannon is chairman of the Professional Licensure Committee.

November 30, 2005

Meagan Renninger, PA-C and lobbyist Andrew Goodman speak to Representative Curt Schroder after watching the Hershey Bears at the Giant Center,

9/16/2005 Mark Desantis, PA-C of Greensburg, PA wrote:

“I attended Tom Tangretti's Golf Outing/Dinner on Monday the 12th.  The weather cooperated well for him.  I unfortunately couldn't golf, but attended the reception and dinner afterwards.  The PSPA had a sign board on the golf course announcing our sponsorship.

Tom was gracious as always and thanked us for coming and supporting him.  He has always remembered my name and information about me without any cues.  That just amazes me.”

Tom Tangretti is the state representative for the Greensburg area. He is on the Appropriations committee. Thanks, Mark, for attending this reception and representing Pennsylvania Physician Assistants!  

Printed in the Fall 2005 PSPA News

Pennsylvania Physician Assistant Political Action Committee
Meagan K. Renninger, PA-C, Chair

As I am sure you are aware, every aspect of health care is impacted by governmental issues. Our proactive participation in the legislative process is vital to ensure our continued ability to provide effective, efficient and comprehensive care to our patients. Patient access to quality medical care, as well as the quality of our own careers, depends on such attention.

The Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants recognizes that we as a profession cannot become complacent in our quest for changes in legislation that will broaden our scope of practice. The PSPA governmental affairs committee will continue to press forward for regulation change in the 2005-2006 legislative session. Obtaining these regulation changes will serve to optimize the relationship with our supervising physicians. It will also ensure that we can continue to enjoy competitive salaries, appealing work opportunities and the professional respect that we have earned. In addition, opponents of medical liability caps are actively engaged. Likewise, we must be committed.

Because of our trustworthy and hardworking lobbyist, I have had met multiple Representatives and Senators from the Pennsylvania Commonwealth. I have stressed the importance of the PA as a partner in medicine and this has been very, very well received. In our busy lives it is difficult to find time to individually contact and remind our legislators of this fact. Instead, trust me to represent you well and please give a donation to the PPA PAC.

September 15 2005

Dee Soltes, PA-C and Kathy Kross, PA-C enjoy the evening with Senator Jerry LaValle from Beaver County.

March 2005

Mark Desantis, PA-C Meets Representative Tom Stevenson

Representative Stevenson sits on the Professional Licensure Committee for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. The Pennsylvania Physician Assistant Political Action Committee was invited to attend a reception for Rep. Stevenson on March 31st in Pittsburgh. . The Representative will be reviewing our proposed regulation changes in the near future. He was “very personable” according to Mark Desantis. Mark also notes that Attorney General Tom Corbett and Dr. Carol Rose, anesthesiologist and former President of the Pennsylvania Medical Society were also present that evening. Thank you Mark for representing Pennsylvania Physician Assistants!

March 2005

Mike Habeck, PA-C Attends Reception for Representative Mike Walko, 20th District

Mike Habeck, PA-C attended a fundraising reception in March, 2005, for Representative Mike Walco. He is from the 20th District, Alleghany County. Democratic, Rep. Walco sits on the PA House Insurance Committee. Mike noted that Rep. Walco’s focus “improving neighborhoods and aid for children and elderly.” At this reception, it was announced that Rep. Walco had received an award in supporting a charity that helps educate homeless children in Allegheny County. Rep. Walco also spoke about his support for expanding the PACE program.

October 7, 2004

House bill 1113 (HB1113) was passed from the education committee to the appropriations committee. This is progress. The bill allows the public school nurse to accept a letter from a PA-C for a child to carry an inhaler in school.

September 15, 2004

PA Mark Desantis Meets Representatives

Mark met with Representatives Frank Dermody, Harry Readshaw and Joe Markosic, all democrats from Allegheny county. This was a fundraiser for the Allegheny County Democratic Caucus. The event was held at the John Heinz History Center in downtown Pittsburgh. The Respresentatives are important to us because they sit on the house professional licensure committee which will review our proposed medical regulations. The representatives were very appreciative of our support for their campaigns.

August 19, 2004

Meagan Renninger, PA-C Meets Representative Stan Saylor

Meagan attended a reception at the Heritage Hills Golf Resort in York, Pennsylvania on August 19, 2004 to hear Representative Stanley Saylor speak in appreciation for his Republican colleagues. Many other healthcare individuals were present from the local area, who were delighted to hear Representative Saylor’s support of improvement to the medical profession in Pennsylvania.

August 3, 2004

Barb Haskell, PA-C Attends Legislative Reception

“My time with Speaker Perzell and his wife provided a valuable opportunity to advocate for our patients by discussing our current legislative efforts. It quickly became clear to me as we dialouged that Speaker and Mrs. Perzell have as their priority the health and welfare of Pennsylvania's citizens. I appreciate the chance I had to spend a lovely evening with such an influential public servant who is committed to furthering the Physician Assistants' ability to provide health care without unnecessary obstacles.”
-Barb Haskell, PA-C