MAPA exists to serve and represent the Physician Assistant profession in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  We are committed to having a proactive influence on health care policy decision making, and to being an advocate that facilitates for the advancement of Massachusetts Physician Assistants at the state level.  We are also committed to keeping our members apprised of evolving professional developments, and to providing quality educational and networking opportunities by sponsoring CME conferences and other events.

H995: An Act RELATIVE TO THE PHYSICIAN SERVICES PROVIDED BY REGISTERED PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS:

The bill is now in the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing: it has been placed in study while the House Ways and Means Committee look into adding this piece of legislation to S2660 (see below) 

SENATE BILL 2660: Senate President Murray and Senator Moore initially drafted this piece of legislation to address the cost and quality of healthcare in the state.  Some sections of the bill  are well recieved but there is a section referring the what pharmaceutical companies are allowed to "give" health care providers.  How does it effect PAs?:

Section 17: Would increase the number of PAs a physician could supervise from 2 to 4. The initial draft had language that would only increase the ratio in "underserved areas" but MAPA was able to lobby the sendate members to get rid of the "underserved" language.  It is the view of MAPA and the AAPA that eliminating or expanding the ratio would allow each physician-PA team to determine the appropriate ratio for that particular practice by assessing the PAs level of skill and experience, the physician's supervisory style and the needs of their patients.  

H995: MAPA is in the process of lobbying house members of the committee to include H995 within S2660.  MAPA feels our piece of legislation lowers the cost and increases the quality of healthcare in this state.

Where is the S2660? Passed the Senate and it is now before House Ways & Means.  They will draft their own version which will be taken up for a vote in the House (and Reps will have an opportunity to file amendments).  The bill that is voted on will be the House version.  A conference committee will then be appointed (made up of 2 House Democrats, 1 House Republican, 2 Senate Democrats, and 1 House Republican) – the conf committee will look at both the House and Senate versions and come up with a  compromise bill, which will go before the House and Senate for a vote.

We need physician assistants, hospitals and supervising physicians to make contact with their own Representative and Senator. Each representative and senator has received information from MAPA about our legislation.  Please call your local state representative and state senator and voice your support for the bill.  If your legislator is in support of the bill, ask them to contact the Speaker or Senate President as well as the Chairs of the Health Care Financing Committee. Here is a list of the Healthcare Committee members. Legislators want to hear from their constituents on issues that matter to them. Please contact the members of the Health Care Finance Committee as two very important pieces of legislation reside with this committee regarding PA practice, members list below: 

Senator Richard Moore of Worcester and Norfolk, Senate Chairman
Representative Patricia Walrath of Stow, House Chairwoman

Senator Marc Pacheco of First Plymouth and Bristol
Senator Patricia Jehlen of Second Middlesex
Senator Susan Fargo of Third Middlesex
Senator Karen Spilka of Second Middlesex and Norfolk
Senator Gale Candaras of First Hampden and Hampshire
Representative Patricia Walrath of Stow
Representative Stephen Kulik of Worthington
Representative Frank Hynes of Marshfield
Representative Robert Koczera of New Bedford
Representative Kay Khan of Newton
Representative David Linsky of Natick
Representative Michael Kane of Holyoke
Representative Peter Kocot of Northampton
Representative Christopher Speranzo of Pittsfield
Representative Steven D'Amico of Seekonk
Representative Angelo Puppolo of Springfield

ACTION STEPS

1. Call and ask to speak with your Senator or Representative. It is also fine to speak with an aide.  Ask to speak to an aide who is dealing with bills related to health care.

2. Tell them that you are a physician assistant who lives in their district, and that you would like them to support a bill that requires that services routinely provided by a physician, and already covered by a health plan, be reimbursed if they are delivered by a licensed physician assistant. If they are in support, ask them to send a letter or call the Speaker of the House (if they are a Representative), the Senate President (if they are a Senator), and the Chairs of the Health Care Financing Committee, Rep. Pat Walrath or Sen. Richard Moore, to ask that this bill continue to move through the legislative process.
3. If you are talking with an aide, ask if they can get back to you after they have spoken with the Rep. or Senator.

4. Thank them for their time. If they have any questions, refer to the talking points on our web site. If you are still unsure of the answer, simply say you do not know but will call them back.  Please contact our government affairs consultant at 617-423-1177 or via email at  emcaleer@charlesgroupconsulting.com to help you get the answer and so you can let us know what the response was. 
Thanks!

Please visit MAPA's web site for more details on effective ways to show your support for this importance of this piece of legislation.