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Washington Update - September 2022
September 6, 2022 by Catherine Majewski
  • Star Grassroots Advocates
    • On August 5, PAEA selected the 2022-23 Student Health Policy Fellowship (SHPF) cohort. Congratulations to the 21 fellows selected including the first-ever fellow from an international PA program at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland! We look forward to coming together for the three-day advocacy workshop beginning on September 12. If you would like to learn more about this year’s cohort and programming, please check out PAEA’s 2022 SHPF selection announcement.  
  • Advancing PAEA’s Advocacy Agenda
    • PAEA’s Government Relations team conducted virtual advocacy training sessions with PA students at the Morehouse School of Medicine and Drexel University during the month of August. During the trainings, students and faculty learned about the Association’s key policy priorities as well as opportunities to advocate on behalf of PA education and the profession. 
    • On August 4, PAEA, along with leading health care stakeholders, signed onto a letter to congressional leadership expressing support for the PREVENT Pandemics Act (S. 3799). The bipartisan legislation would ensure a stronger national response to future public health emergencies by improving testing and treatment capabilities, addressing health disparities, reinforcing the Strategic National Stockpile through public-private partnerships, and investing in efforts focused on research, preparedness, and public health workforce development.
    • On August 10, PAEA participated in a listening session with other PA organizations hosted by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health for the HHS Initiative to Strengthen Primary Health Care. During the session, PAEA shared the policy recommendations outlined in the Association’s response to the Initiative’s Request for Information late last month. The PA organizations also uniformly identified clinical sites shortages as one of the most significant barriers to primary care workforce development.  
  • Health Care News in Washington
    • On August 4, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra declared monkeypox a federal public health emergency (PHE).
    • On August 24, President Biden announced a final extension of the pause on student loan repayment, interest, and collections through December 31, 2022, as well as plans to cancel up to $10,000 in outstanding debt for non-Pell Grant recipient borrowers, and up to $20,000 for Pell Grant recipients, with an annual individual income of less than $125,000 or household income of $250,000. If you would like to learn more about next steps for implementing this policy or how you can apply for forgiveness, please check out PAEA’s article on the Biden administration’s student loan announcement
  • Opportunities for Action
    • On August 11, staff from the office of Rep. French Hill (R-AR-02) visited the PA program at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. During the visit, Rep. Hill’s representative participated in a tour with faculty and students to learn more about the program, the profession, and the challenges impacting PA education. Special thanks to University of Arkansas PA Program Director and PAEA Government Relations Steering Committee (GRSC) member, Edward L. Williams, DMSc, M.Ed., for coordinating and conducting a successful program visit! If you are interested in hosting a member of Congress at your PA program, please complete and submit PAEA’s Member of Congress Program Visit Technical Assistance Request Form to get started. 
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