A recent opinion by guest writer Don Gale stated the importance of increasing the number of health care providers, such as PAs (physician assistants), in our state. To accomplish that, Utah must first make the most of our current PA workforce, and that requires updating our laws to better align with how PAs and physicians work together today.
PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s main health care provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs practice in every medical setting and specialty. PAs treat thousands of patients every day across Utah and have a critical role in meeting patient demand for access to care, especially in rural areas with provider shortages. As COVID-19 burdens our systems, providers, and community, I agree more health care providers are needed. PAs are – and have been – ready to increase patient access to care.
I encourage lawmakers to swiftly pass SB27. This bill will ensure Utah maximizes our current PA workforce and is positioned to recruit more PAs. This bill will make several much-needed changes to modernize PA laws in our state and pave the way for PAs to care for patients as we are trained to do.
For example, SB27 will lift an outdated requirement that a PA has a specific supervising physician – allowing PAs to collaborate with multiple physicians and other health care providers in order to provide care consistent with our training and experience where we are needed most, when we are needed most.
Yes, we need more health care providers in our state. But first, let’s lift administrative burdens that are holding back the ones we already have. Let’s pass SB27.
Tim McCreary, President of the Utah Academy of Physician Assistants, Vernal