Top NY Doctor Testifies to 'Remove Outdated Laws' for PAs
NY Department of Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald, a staunch advocate for PAs from their education to their work, testified for qualified PAs to practice autonomously.
NY’s Top Doctor Supports PAs Autonomy
During the 2024 Joint Legislative Public Hearing on New York's Executive Budget Proposal for Health, Dr. James McDonald, Commissioner of the NY Department of Health and a fervent supporter of PAs in both their medical training and professional practice, made a clear point to the legislature.
He testified that allowing the 20,000+ qualified PAs in NY autonomy is not about changing their scope of work; rather, it's about eliminating an outdated administrative barrier that hinders their practice and burdens NY’s healthcare force. Under the COVID-19 pandemic executive order, PAs practiced autonomously for three years, but the recent rollback of these allowances is now having significant effects on the healthcare community.
This reversal has led to an increase in administrative paperwork for both administrators and healthcare companies, subsequently impacting their budgets. The additional bureaucratic processes not only strain financial resources but also divert attention away from patient care, exacerbating the challenges already faced by the healthcare sector.
The Healthcare Shortage Crisis in New York
Dr. McDonald emphasizes that these outdated laws "contribute significantly to NY's continuing healthcare shortage and rising costs," which in turn exacerbate health disparities in the state. The severity of the healthcare shortage has reached critical levels.
Edward Mathes, the current president of New York’s Society of PAs (NYSSPA), emphasized the extent of the crisis: “The healthcare shortage is so bad that, even if you quadrupled the number of medical school enrollees and quadrupled the residency positions today, it would take 10-15 years to meet the need,” Mathes stated.
He further highlighted the urgency of the situation, adding, “That is how bad the current healthcare shortage really is. We need the crucial reform to enhance the work of PAs across NY state and not hinder it.”
Efforts to Include PAs in Medicaid Managed Care Plan Provider Directories
In line with removing PA barriers is an ongoing effort to carry out the need for PAs to be searchable in NYS Medicaid Managed Care Plan provider directories as directed by Governor Kathy Hochul in 2022.
The Governor stated in Senate Bill 5956-A, "I recognize the value that PAs bring to primary care ... I am directing the Department of Health to require that PAs be listed in the Medicaid Managed Care Plan provider directories." This omission of PAs within Medicaid Managed Provider Directories limits the visibility of an essential segment of our healthcare workforce and, more importantly, restricts patient choices for care.
Imperative Role of PAs in Alleviating New York's Healthcare Challenges
The discussions and testimonies presented at the 2024 Joint Legislative Public Hearing highlight a critical juncture in New York's healthcare system. The advocacy for the autonomy of PAs by Dr. James McDonald and others underscores the essential role PAs play in addressing the healthcare shortage in New York State.
The challenges faced due to the rollback of PAs' autonomy post-COVID-19 pandemic, including increased administrative burdens and financial strain, signify the need for legislative and policy reforms. Furthermore, the efforts to include PAs in Medicaid Managed Care Plan provider directories, as advocated by Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner Dr. McDonald, reflect a broader recognition of the value PAs bring to healthcare.
These developments suggest a pivotal moment for healthcare policy in New York, where enabling PAs to practice to the full extent of their training and expertise could be a key strategy in mitigating the state's healthcare challenges and improving patient access to quality care.
A major thanks to the inspiring Dr. McDonald and Governor Hochul, for your recognition of how PAs can fully serve our most vulnerable patients in New York.
Call to Action From NYSSPA for PA in Medicaid Managed Provider Directories
So please join me in asking NY's esteemed Medicaid Director, Amir Bassiri, for his action in following through on the Governor’s directive to allow PAs to be searchable in NYS Medicaid provider directories.
What You Can Do for PAs to be searchable on NYS Medicaid Managed Care Plans:
Write a letter or email expressing your support for the full implementation of Governor Hochul’s directive.
Call the office of the Medicaid Director, Amir Bassiri, to voice your support and urge action.
Share this information with others in your network to amplify the message.
Contact Details:
Name: Amir Bassiri
Title: Medicaid Director
Agency: NYS Department of Health
Address: 99 Washington Ave, Suite 1715, Albany, New York, 12210
Telephone: 518-474-3018
Email: Amir.Bassiri@health.ny.gov
Fax: 518-486-1346
Call to Action for PAs and PA Students for the Governor’s budget:
Governor Hochul released her draft budget in January 2024. PAs are once again included in this proposed budget.
If Part Q, Sections 1-7 of the budget passes, it will have a profound impact on increasing patient access to the quality care provided by PAs.
Highlights include:
Removes physician supervision for PAs who have practiced for more than 8,000 hours and are practicing in primary care and certain non-surgical specialties or in a health system or hospital that has given them privileges.
Permits PAs to prescribe, dispense, administer, or procure items necessary to commence or complete a course of therapy.
Removal of physician-to-PA ratios. (No more 1:4 outpatient or 1:6 inpatient)
PAs can prescribe durable medical equipment.
PAs can write non-patient-specific orders (also known as protocol orders).
PAs can be hired as directors of school health services.
IT IS IMPORTANT that we amplify our message to the NYS legislature as they continue these final budget discussions.
Again I call on you for help to advance our profession. NYSSPA is asking all PAs, their friends, families, and patients to contact these key decision-makers:
Senator Toby Ann Stavisky, NYS Senate Higher Education Chair, stavisky@nysenate.gov
Assembly member Patricia Fahy, NYS Assembly Higher Education Chair, fahyP@nyassembly.gov
Senator Andrea Stewart-Cousins, Senate Majority Leader, scousins@nysenate.gov
Speaker Carl Heastie, Speaker of the Assembly, speaker@nyassembly.gov
Senator Gustavo Rivera, NYS Senate Health Committee Chair, grivera@nysenate.gov
Assembly member Amy Paulin, NYS Assembly Health Committee Chair, PaulinA@nyassembly.gov