American Academy of Physician Assistants Applauds U.S. House of Representatives for Passing Health Care Reform Bill

WASHINGTON, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), representing more than 75,000 clinically practicing physician assistants (PAs) practicing in the United States, applauds the U.S. House of Representatives for passing Saturday its health care reform bill, H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act.

"We are especially delighted that this reform bill will ultimately lower the cost of health care and greatly expand coverage to millions of Americans who are currently uninsured," said AAPA President Stephen Hanson. "We also are pleased that the bill specifies PAs as primary health care providers and accentuates the fact that PAs may lead the primary care team in the new chronic care management model."

The bill fully integrates PAs into new medical home and chronic care management models of care, including the following requirement for certification of community-based medical homes -- "the organization provides medical home services under the supervision of and in close collaboration with the primary care physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant designated by the beneficiary as his or her community-based medical home provider."

AAPA is committed to working with the 111th Congress to enact health care reform legislation that meets the needs of the American people and encompasses the Academy's health care reform principles, including: access to quality, affordable, cost-effective health care for all Americans; the use of evidence-based medicine; physician-directed teams of health care providers; optimal utilization of primary care; emphasis on health promotion and disease prevention; medical liability reform that treats both patients and providers equitably and encourages health care professionals to apologize for an adverse outcome without increasing risk; and sustainable financing and payment mechanisms that take into account comparative-effectiveness information.

"The Affordable Health Care for America Act aligns with many of AAPA's health care reform principles. We are truly pleased that the House passed this bill Saturday," Hanson said.

The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) is the only national professional association that represents PAs across all medical and surgical specialties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the armed forces and federal services. Founded in 1968, AAPA works to increase the professional and personal growth of the entire PA workforce by providing comprehensive support and advocacy for physician assistants so that they may, in turn, provide patients with increased access to quality, cost-effective health care. Learn more about PAs at www.aapa.org.