CONTACT YOUR LEGISLATOR TODAY!

Dear Fellow Maryland PA,

Your profession needs your help!

The Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants (MAPA) is working hard to amend state law to modernize the PA practice act. Maryland legislators are currently considering, HB 323/SB 308 which would:

(1) change PAs from “certification” to “licensure” by the State Board of Physicians

(2) reduce the time required to hire a PA by removing the requirement for Board and PAAC review and approval of individual procedures

(3) increase the number of PAs a physician may supervise

(4) expand reporting language and causes for discipline to better protect the public

(5) AND MUCH, MUCH MORE!!!

You may access the text of the bills at:
HB 323: http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/bills/hb/hb0323f.pdf
SB 308: http://mlis.state.md.us/2010rs/billfile/sb0308.htm

Because this legislative effort affects your practice and the patients for whom you provide care, you and your supervising physician have a special role to play. MAPA requests that you contact your legislator today and ask their support of HB 323/SB 308. Hearing from you now about your practice and how this bill will help you improve patient care will give your state representatives and state senators that much more reason to support it. PAs and physicians can find the contact information for their state legislators by visiting the following web site: http://mdelect.net/

Legislators want to hear from as many of their constituents as possible, so volume counts! Ask all PAs you work with, along with physicians, to contact their legislators in support of these bills—soon! The House hearing is scheduled for Monday, February 22th at 1pm and a Senate hearing will quickly follow on Thursday, February 18th at 1pm—so time is of the essence!

Please talk to your supervising physician(s) about these issues and ask them to send a letter today in support of the bills. We have attached a sample letter to help guide your physician(s) in organizing points that are specific to his/her own practice.
PA SAMPLE LETTER
PHYSICIAN SAMPLE LETTER

DO NOT CUT/PASTE THESE SAMPLES IN LIEU OF AN ORIGINAL LETTER. Your physician’s letter needs to be personal, short and to the point.

The sooner legislators hear from Maryland doctors and PAs, the better our chances of success. Please provide your legislators with as much information about PAs and physician-PA team practice as possible. And be sure to make these critical points:

• The law governing PAs has not undergone a comprehensive effort to remove antiquated processes of regulation and reflect modern medical practice in over twenty years

• The legislation does not change the scope of practice of PAs, who do not desire to be independent practitioners; it merely reflects an improved methodology to regulate physician-PA team practice in the state

• The legislation will allow patients to have greater access to care, especially in rural and urban underserved areas by allowing physicians to supervise more PAs which will permit physicians to care for patients who may be in greater need of the physician’s expertise

Thank you for your efforts to improve PA practice in Maryland and please feel free to contact me with any questions about this initiative.

Sincerely,

Tom Killmond, PA-C
Legislative Chair, MAPA

This e-mail alert is being sent to you by MAPA. The Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants: Partners in State Advocacy.

2010 CME Conference Dates - Mark Your Calendars
The 2010 CME Conference will again be held in Ocean City, MD at the Clarion Hotel. It will start Wednesday night, September 1 and run through Sunday, September 5. MAPA has arranged with the Clarion to allow you to continue your stay beyond the conference dates, at the same room rate available during the conference.
Check back in the coming months for additional information about the 2010 conference, including conference rates and online registration opportunities.

American Institutes for Research looking for PAs to Interview
If you are a PA in the Baltimore area and would be interested in participating ni a research study regarding the quality of home health agencies, please contact Lauren Smeeding at lsmeeding@air.org.

MAPA Remembers
Stephanie Raffa of Parkton, MD died on Wednesday August 13, 2008 from Alzheimer's Disease. She was 64 years old. Mrs. Raffa graduated from the Essex Community College PA Program in 1985. After graduation, she worked as a physician assistant at Spring Grove Hospital, Central Medical Center and Towson University Health Center. In addition Mrs. Raffa served as a clinical preceptor for many PA studentsand was a member of both the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. She is survived by her husband, two daughters, four grandchildren, two sisters and her niece, Jean Keller, who graduated from PA school with her. A memorial service was held at the Ruck Funeral Home in Towson on Sunday where she was remembered for her genuine love of family, friends and the students she cared for at Towson University. Despite her illness, she honestly believed she had a wonderful life - - just like the title of her favorite movie.
Thank you Tim Parker for this contribution.