Help PAs Increase Access to Care

Physician Assistants help increase patients' access to quality health care. The state legislature has passed a bill, AB 3, that will improve this access by eliminating barriers to patients seeking care from PAs. Please urge Governor Schwarzenegger to sign this bill. If you are a PA, this is an important opportunity for you to improve your profession and help your patients. If you are not a PA, please stand with your fellow UNAC/UHCP members who are PAs and are your partners in providing quality health care to all patients.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Please Sign AB 3

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

As a health care professional, I know that Physician Assistants are key to helping patients get access to the quality health care they need. I'm a member of United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals, affiliated with AFSCME, and I'm joining my fellow union members in urging you to sign AB 3. This bill would eliminate several barriers to patients seeking care from PAs.

Please sign AB 3 and help Californians have better access to health care.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
September 20, 2007

Background Information

Providing quality health care requires all different types of health care professionals bringing their talent, dedication, education and experience to their patients. Physician assistants are an important part of effective health care teams and help increase our patients' access to quality care. However, many barriers currently exist for patients seeking care from PAs. The state legislature has passed a bill, AB 3, that would remove some of these barriers.

Specifically, AB 3 would

Change a requirement for Patient-Specific Authority for Schedule II-V Medications. If the PA meets certain educational standards in pharmacology and if the PA and their supervising physician wish to forego patient-specific approval for some of or all medications in Schedule II-V, controlled medications could be included in the protocol and/or formulary.
Change the ratios of Physician Assistant to Supervising Physician to allow greater flexibility for staffing busy clinics and provide greater access to care.
Decrease the minimum chart countersignature requirement.
Allow PAs to be reimbursed for all procedures or services normally covered by Medi-Cal when performed by a physician and when they are within the scope of PA practice and training.

Please urge Governor Schwarzenegger to sign AB 3 and increase patients' access to the quality health care that physician assistants provide.