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Welcome to the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants! 
To join the IAPA over the website, click the IAPA Membership Application on the left sidebar. 
Or to print out a hard copy, click here.

  Change of Address, Email? Phone?
If you need to update your member information, you can do so in the members only area.
Thank you!


QUICK NEWS JUNE 18, 2009

The Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants had a stellar performance in the Illinois General Assembly during the Spring Session of this year.  We had four bills introduced.  Three have passed:

    HB 2247 was passed on to the Governor's Office on June 12, 2009.  Governor Quinn has 60 days to sign the bill.
    SB 1486 has arrived in the Governor's Office as of May 27, 2009.
    SB 1487 is expected to arrive in the Governor's Office very soon.
There is still much work to be done.  Letters must be written to Governor Quinn asking for his signature on these bills.
You may send your letters to:
    The Honorable Patrick Quinn
    Governor
    207 Statehouse
    Springfield, IL  62706

The bill that did not pass this year, is the ratio bill.  The PA profession must work collectively to address this issue with their superivisng physicians.  We have to gain their support and ask the Illinois State Medical Society's House of Delegates to change their policy that states they support a 1:2 ratio only.  The ISMS will oppose any discussion on the issue until the policy is changed.  Please speak to your supervising physicians. 

The IAPA will continue to work for the PAs in Illinois.  We need your membership.  We need your voice.  Thank you for your support.

News from May 14, 2009
Great news
from the IAPA!!!  It's been a busy day!!

At 11:45 a.m. today, the Senate passed HB 2247 on a vote of 58-0-0, gaining Schedule II privileges for physician assistants in Illinois.  This bill has 30 days to go to the Governor's office.  The Governor has 60 days to sign it!  It will take a number of months to have the statute implemented. 

At 2:30 p.m. today, the House passed SB 1486 on a vote of 114-0-0, re-defining the PA Advisory Committee in the PA Practice Act.  This bill will go back to the Senate for concurrence for House Committee Amendment #1.  Once it is passed in the Senate on concurrence, it will take 30 days to go to the Governor's desk.  The Governor will have 60 days to sign it.

Also, SB 1487 gaining Emergency Disaster privileges for PAs, is all ready on its way to the Governor's Office, having passed on April 28, 2009.

We have had a banner year at the Illinois Capital!!  The IAPA works hard for all PAs in Illinois!  We appreciate your membership!!  There is much more work to be done!!

Best regards,

Sharon Blattner, M.Ed., PA-C

President




4/23/2009
HB 2247 granting Schedule II Controlled Substances privileges, click here for Legislative Brief, as assigned to the Senate Consumer Protection Committee.  If you live or work within any of these Senator's districts, please call them and ask them to support HB 2247.  It is most likely, the bill will be posted at the committee's April 30 hearing. 

SB 1487 adding Emergency Disaster language to the PA Practice Act, passed out of the  House Health Care Licenses Committee on Wedensday, April 22, 2009 at 9:30 a.m.   Click here to see the IAPA Legislative Brief on this bill.


4/1/2009
The Illinois House passed HB 2247, that adds Schedule II privileges for PAs, at 1:45 p.m. this afternoon.
HB 2247 now crosses over to the Illinois Senate. 
SB 1487, that adds Emergency Disaster Language to the PA Practice Act, passed the House on March 27, and is now in the House, and was picked up by Rep. Coulson.  Rep. Coulson may pick up SB 1486, that redefines the PA Advisory Committee, when it comes over as well. 


3/26/2009
At 1:20 p.m.today, Senate Bill 1487 was brought up on Third Reading on the Illinois Senate floor.
<>It passed, 57 - 0.
Now it will cross chambers and go to the House.

3/13/2009
Three bills that carry proposed legislation to expand PA practice privileges have moved through the Illinois House and Senate Committees.  Click here to see the bills and find out what you can do to assist the legislative efforts.

SPRING CME 2009 in Springfield was a very big success.  Many thanks to all participants.  Evaluations show a grand total approval rating of 4.47 out of 5 points!



NEWS 1/9/2009

Click here to see the new 2009 IAPA Board of Directors.

IAPA has set goals for 2009.  See below.

Legislative Committee hopes to:
  • Gain Controlled Substance Schedule II privileges
  • Remove Supervising Physician Ratio
  • Add Emergency Disaster Language
  • Redefine PA Advisory Committee.
Membership Committee hopes to:
  • Communicate to Current Members Regarding Activities
  • Seek New Membership for IAPA Less Than 400 of the 1900 PAs in Illinois as Members
Public Education Committee hopes to:
  • Educate Other Organizations as to the "role of a PA."
  • Update the Website
  • Print New Display Panels
  • Provide a New Brochure for Members to Give to Patients About "What is a PA?"
QUICK NEWS 12/31/2008

It is my sincere privilege to announce the results of the IAPA Election for 2009. 
Below are members newly elected to the IAPA Board of Directors.  Congratulations!
 

PRESIDENT - Sharon Blattner, M.Ed, PA-C
PRESIDENT-ELECT (One Year Term) -
Sarah Smalley, PA-C
TREASURER (Two Year Term) - Randall Wilcoxen, PA-C

CENTRAL WEST CHAPTER OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS  (Two Year Term - Tony Grasch, PA-C
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS CHAPTER  (Two Year Term) - Marsha Meiners, PA-C
SOUTH EAST CHICAGO PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS CHAPTER (Two Year Term) - James Kell, PA-C
AAPA DELEGATES for 2010-2011. (Two-year term.) Mary Murray, MSPAC, PA-C, Marsha Meiners, PA-C

It has been my honor to serve the PA profession in Illinois during the past year.  As the President of the IAPA, our biggest accomplishment was to hire an experienced lobbying team that will work with the legislature during the next two years at least.  IAPA has a large legislative agenda that needs direct attention from all of us.  The IAPA hopes to  gain Schedule II Controlled Substance privileges, remove the ratio, add emergency disaster language to allow PAs to participate and redefine the PA Advisory Committee in the Practice Act.  These are all big agenda items in need of your support. 

How can you support these efforts?  I ask that every PA in the State, join IAPA.  Your membership contributes to our professional growth, the expanse of practice privileges. 
Kathy Dodd, PA-C


MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT ISSUES

Preview the AAPA presentation of Medicare Reimbursement at:  http://www.aapa.org/sparks/fast/menu.html

1)       Does the supervising physician need to be on site in order for the hospital to bill under the physician's name?
In hospitals, billing under the physician when both the PA and physician deliver care to the same patient on the same day does not require that the physician be on site when the PA delivers his/her portion of care.  Medicare does require that the physician personally perform some portion of the evaluation and management service (face-to-face with the patient) during that calendar day.  This is known as a shared visit.  However, if the physician never treats the patient on that calendar day then the PA’s services can only be reimbursed at 85%.  Procedures and consultations can’t be billed as a shared visit.  That same policy does not really work in the office setting.
 
2)      
Does the supervising physician need to sign each chart for Medicare patients?
Medicare generally has no requirement that the physician ever co-sign a PA’s chart.  State law or the policies of hospitals may have that requirement, but not Medicare.  Medicare’s Condition of Participation do require that a physician co-sign a PA’s chart when the PA has performed a hospital admission H&P or a pre-surgical H&P.
 
3)      
What's the new rule for PAs to see a patient with a new condition?
PAs can always see and treat new patients in the office or hospital as long as the claim is submitted under the PA’s name and Medicare provider number (paid at 85%). If the office is trying to bill Medicare under the physician’s name at 100% (“incident to”) then PA’s can’t treat new patients.

4)      
Shouldn't a PA have his own UPIN number and bill under their own UPIN number?
Every PA should have a Medicare PIN.  The UPIN is issued after the PIN and is not used for day-to –day billing.  The PIN is used for billing.  A PA in a pediactric practice could argue that there is no need to get a PIN.  They should understand that not every patient covered by Medicare is elderly.  Younger patients with kidney disease and other conditions can also be covered by Medicare.  To apply, contact your area Medicare Services Office and ask for form CMS855.
   

 


PROSPECTIVE PA STUDENTS

If you are a prospective PA student you will be interested to know that we now have a pre-PA membership category. Membership dues are $10.00 and you will make a big impression on your PA interviews when they find out your are already involved in the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants. Click here to print out a form for your membership and get involved in your profession!

WHAT CAN I DO TO AID THE IAPA LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS?

  • Pay your dues to help IAPA pay for the legislative efforts.
  • Ask if all PAs in your practice are members of the IAPA.
  • Your legislators need to be aware of the importance of knowing what the PA Profession is. Please call, email, or write a letter to your state legislator to inform them about PAs roles in healthcare.

Click here to find your local legislator.


Last change done on 4/1/2009
 

  Change of Address, Email? Phone?
If you need to update your member information, you can do so in the members only area.
If you need your username and password please click here. Thank you!






















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