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Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants

Member Login Join or Renew
  • Home
  • About
    • Our Purpose
    • Officer Directory
    • Officer’s Responsibilities
      • President
      • President Elect
      • Immediate Past President
      • Treasurer
      • Secretary
      • Directors at Large
      • Student Directors at Large
  • News
    • Blog
    • Newsletters
    • PSPA News Brief
  • Contact
  • Why PSPA
    • Overview
    • For Practicing PAs
    • For Students
    • For Employers
  • Membership
    • Reasons to Join PSPA
    • Join PSPA
    • Membership Levels
    • Benefits of Membership
      • Insurance Benefits
    • Member Directory
    • Renew Membership
    • Keystone Cash
    • Gift Memberships
  • Career Center
    • Overview
    • Job Seekers
      • Find a Job
      • Interviewing Tips
      • Pre-Employment Checklist
      • Anatomy of a Contract
      • New Graduate Info Sheet
      • Obtaining State License
      • Employment Exit Checklist
    • Employers/Recruiters
      • Employer Career Center
      • How to Find a PA
      • Benefits of Hiring a PA
      • Reimbursement for Services
      • Advertising and Fees
    • Resources
      • Salary and Demographics
      • Physician PA Team
      • Summary of PA Regulations
      • Amending Hospital Bylaws
      • Research Grant
  • Student Affairs
    • Overview
    • Potential Students
    • Active Students
    • Graduating Students
    • Pennsylvania PA Programs
    • Challenge Bowl
      • General Info/Rules
      • Challenge Bowl FAQs
    • Student Leader Philanthropic Endowment
    • Student Awards/Scholarships
      • Nathaniel Alston Student Achievement Scholarship Award
      • Thomas J. Lemley Award for Health Disparities Competition
    • Links
  • Advocacy
    • Overview
    • Governmental Affairs
      • Action Center
      • State Boards of Medicine and Osteopathic Medicine
      • Online Written Agreement Information
      • Regulatory Activity
      • Legislative Activity
      • Political Action Committee
      • About PSPA PAC
      • Tools
      • SBM Regulations**
      • SBOM Regulations**
      • Archives
    • Workplace
      • Leadership
      • PSPA Annual Awards
        • How it Works
        • Fellow Awards
        • PSPA Award Winners
    • Community
      • Health Disparities
      • Annual Charity
      • 10 Ways to Make a Difference
    • Committees
      • Committee Information
      • Committee Annual Reports
      • AAPA House Delegates
      • Awards Committee
      • Conference Planning Committee
      • Election Committee
      • Finance Committee
      • Governmental Affairs Committee
      • Health Disparities Committee
      • Historian
      • Leadership & Mentoring Committee
      • Membership Committee
      • Newsletter Committee
      • PSPA Liaison
      • Public Relations & Education Committee
      • Regional Affairs Committee
      • Reimbursement Committee
      • Social Media
      • Standing Rules & Policy Committee
      • Student & Faculty Affairs Committee
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      • Website Committee
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      • Spread the Word
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      • Concepts to Convey
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    • Annual Conference
      • 2023 CME Conference Rates & Registration
      • General Information
      • Schedule
      • Thank you to our 2022 speakers!
      • Hotel Information
      • CME Workshops
      • Professional Sessions
      • Current Exhibitors
      • Special Events
      • Conference Faculty
      • Committee Interest Form
      • Exhibitor and Sponsor Information
      • Speaker Application
      • Future Conference Locations
      • Posting of Conference Lectures
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    • CME Announcements
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News

ALLOWING PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS TO SERVE MEDICARE HOSPICE PATIENTS

Posted on March 9, 2011 by Susan DeSantis

Allowing Physician Assistants to Serve Medicare Hospice Patients

Recommendation
The American Academy of Physician Assistants recommends that sections 1861(dd)(3)(B) and
1814(a)(7)(A)(i)(I) of the Social Security Act be amended to permit physician assistants (PAs) to provide hospice care to their patients who elect Medicare’s hospice benefit. (The recommended provisions were included in S. 318, S. 1157, and H.R. 3590 in the 111th Congress.)

Background
Medicare coverage was originally extended to PAs through the 1977 Rural Health Clinic Services Act. Congress acknowledged that PAs had the educational preparation and skills to provide a wide range of primary care services to Medicare beneficiaries living in areas experiencing a shortage of physicians. Congress’ aim was to extend medical services to rural Medicare beneficiaries. Subsequent Congresses steadily expanded Medicare coverage for services provided by PAs. In 1997, the 105th Congress passed the Balanced Budget Act (BBA). The BBA made it clear that medical services provided by PAs, as allowed by state law, are covered by Medicare in all settings at one uniform rate. Unfortunately, the former Health Care Services Administration (now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services) decided that the BBA’s Medicare provisions regarding coverage of services provided by PAs did not apply to hospice care. As a result, PAs are not allowed to provide hospice care to their patients, forcing families to seek alternative health care professionals to manage hospice
care services.

Rationale
The 1997 BBA broadly authorizes PAs to deliver physician medical services if allowed by state law and delegated by the supervising physician. The law makes it clear that state law, not federal coverage policies, determines the conditions of PA practice. However, since HCFA, and later CMS, determined that the BBA provisions regarding PAs do not apply to certain sections of the Social Security Act, it is necessary to enact a technical correction to clarify Congress’ original intent through the 1997 BBA. In the absence of this change, beneficiaries face delays, disruption in care, and denial of medically necessary care covered by Medicare.

For further information, please contact:
Sandy Harding, Senior Director of Federal Advocacy
American Academy of Physician Assistants
Telephone: 703-836-2272, ext. 3205
E-mail: sharding@aapa.org

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