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Call to Action: Add Your Voice to Critical Federal Legislation

Posted over 1 year ago by Brian Lauf

Hello,

I am sharing a message from AAPA President,  Jennifer M. Orozco.

AAPA has been working hard to continue advancing the Improving Access to Workers’ Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act (H.R. 6087) through Congress.

 

This bipartisan legislation will modernize the Federal Employees’ Compensation Act (FECA) to cover services provided to injured federal workers by physician associates/physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs).

 

H.R. 6087 passed unanimously through committee with broad bipartisan support in March. A few days before it was scheduled to be considered by the full House of Representatives last month, the American Medical Association (AMA) decided to oppose the bill and launched baseless attacks against the PA and NP professions. Despite AMA’s efforts, the House of Representatives considered the legislation on its merit and passed the bill on an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 325 to 83.

 

I commend the sponsors of H.R. 6087 – Rep. Joe Courtney and Rep. Tim Walberg – as well as AAPA staff and leadership for securing House passage of this legislation which will ensure PAs are recognized under the Federal Employees’ Compensation Program to diagnose medical conditions, certify injury and extent of disability, and oversee patient treatment and care.

 

Following passage in the House, H.R. 6087 has advanced to the Senate. I urge all PAs to take five minutes to visit the AAPA Advocacy Action Center and contact your Senators to ask them to take up and pass H.R. 6087. Your voice is critical to the successful outcome of this important legislation, especially as the AMA continues its effort to stop the bill’s passage.