The IAPA leads the PA profession to the Illinois Capital.  With a new General Assembly starting in January, the IAPA has numerous legislative items in need of legislator’s attention.  

• PA ratio needs to be addressed to increase access to healthcare.  Ask your physicians to support this.  Ask your physicians to contact the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) and support activity to change their policy of 2 PAs to 1 Supervising Physician.
• PAs as Medical Corporation Shareholders.  Ask your physicians to support this.  Many PAs would like to become shareholders in their practices.  There are nine states that allow PAs to own a medical practice and many states are considering this with the impending healthcare reform.
• PAs need signature authority to sign Secretary of State medical reports.  The IAPA has come to an agreement with the Secretary of State’s office to revise this statute.
• PAs will gain the authority to do blood draws as required for certain traffic violations.
• PAs will gain authority to obtain specimens in cases of sexual assault.  Currently, the statute does not specifically state that a PA can participate in these types of examinations.
• PAs will re-define the definition of a “Competent Medical Specialist” within the Illinois Vehicle Code.