Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants (IAPA) represents the PA profession in the State of Illinois.

IAPA represents 423 certified and licensed Physician Assistants and 250 Physician Assistant students. 

Our Mission

The Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants exists to provide information, education and governmental advocacy, and to serve as the primary resource on the Physician Assistant profession.

SPRING CME March 24 & 25, 2012
Wedeberg Conference Center
Memorial Hospital, Springfield, IL
Registration is now open on line.

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February 20, 2012

IAPA HAS TWO BILLS INTRODUCED AT THE ILLINOIS CAPITOL

HB 5105 removes the ratio that allows a physician to supervise only two physician assistants.  This would improve access to healthcare by allowing the physician to determine how many PAs he/she can supervise.  In rural and underserved areas, physicians would like to utilize the services of more PAs, particularly PAs working on a part-time basis.


As the healthcare industry expands, the PA profession expands. PAs are now being supervised by physicians in almost every medical and surgical specialty.  Physicians are asking to remove the ratio in order to allow greater access to healthcare professionals in Southern Illinois, a prime example where there are fewer physicians.  The PA may be the only healthcare provider within sixty miles.


Part-time employment of healthcare providers is being utilized by more healthcare organizations.  Currently, a supervising physician can only supervise two PAs, whether the PA is full-time or part-time.  Removing the ratio would offer the supervising physician more flexibility when hiring PAs on a full time or part time basis.  In today's healthcare industry, flexibility is key.  The ratio is prohibiting many physicians from customizing their care depending upon their specialty, setting and patient population.


Currently, Illinois law reflects a supervising physician can supervise two PAs.  The ratio has been 1:2 for twelve years.  Seven states do not have a supervisory ratio requirement for physicians and PAs. 
 

In 1996, the American Academy of Family Physicians removed the ratio provision from its guidelines on the supervision of midlevel practitioners.  In 1998, the American Medical Association adopted the recommendation: "The appropriate ratio of physician to physician extenders should be determined by physicians at the practice level, consistent with good medical practice, and state law where relevant."

In order to make this a successful campaign, the IAPA asks you to do TWO things:


1. Talk to your supervising physician and the ratio issue.  Ask them to support our changes.  Ask them to call their Illinois State Medical Society and voice their opinion.
 

2. Call you State Legislator, both Senator and Representative, explain to them what a PA is, and how this bill can provide greater access to quality healthcare for the citizens of Illinois.
 

The IAPA second bill, HB 5104, removes old language form the PA Practice Act and is clean up language from 1987 that defines how a PA can work in an Illinois Correctional Facility.  This is an outdated policy.  All PAs in Illinois must be licensed if working within an Illinois Correctional Facility.

 
June 1, 2011

1.  At the Capitol,SB 2255, amends the PA Practice Act and the Nurse Practice Act. Provides that a supervising physician or collaborating physician may, but is not required to, delegate prescriptive authority, including expanded privileges with Schedule II Controlled Substances.  PAs will not have to write for only 5 oral substances, but will have privileges for any Schedule II oral substance and patches.  It will require 5 hours of pharmacology CME each year.  New PAs applying for licenses for Schedule II will require at least 45 hours of pharmacology within a PA Program.  Rules will need to be written for this bill before PAs prescribe more than 5 oral dosages. The bill was signed on August 10, 2011 and is Public Act, 97-0358.

2. At the Capitol in Springfield, HB 1702, amends four sections of the Illinois Vehicle Code allowing licensed physician assistants (PA) and licensed advanced practice nurses (APN) as persons specifically authorized to do blood draws in suspected DUI cases.  Sponsored by Representative Dan Reitz (D-116, Sparta, IL), has been:
1.  Introduced in the House Health Care Committee.
2.  Voted unanimously out of the House Health Care Committee.
3.  Passed by the House of Representatives and is now over in the Senate. 
4.  Sponsored in the Senate by Senator Luechtefeld.
5.  Passed the Senate Licensed Activities Committee on May 5 and moves to the Senate floor for a vote. 
6.  Bill was signed on Friday, August 19, 2011 and is Public Act . . . . . . . . . 97-04503. 

3. At the Capitol, SB 1585, allows PAs to sign medical exam reports with the Secretary of State's Office.  Sponsored by Senator M. Maggie Crotty (D-19, Oak Forest, IL) has been:
1.  Introduced in the Senate Transportation Committee.
2.  Voted unanimously out of the Senate Transportation Committee.
3.  Passed the Senate and is now over in the House of Representatives.
4.  Sponsored in the House by Representative Joseph Lyons and co-sponosred by Re. Sandra Pilos.
5.  Assigned to the House Transportation Committee. 
6.  Read in committee on April 27, 2011.  Passed to the House Floor for a vote.
7.  Governor Quinn signed the bill.  It is now Public Act 97-0185 and is effective immediately.