On top of approving the budget for next year, the PA Senate also approved legislation that was introduced by Senator Joe Pittman concerning physician assistants.
Both Senate Bills 397 and 398 were approved by unanimous votes in the senate on Friday. One bill amends the Osteopathic Medical Practice Act, and the other amends the Medical Practice Act of 1985. The aim of both bills is to modernize and advance the practice of physician assistants in Pennsylvania. In a statement, Senator Pittman said that the state was one of the premier states for physician assistant education, but after that, students will head out of state to find work as the current legislation makes it less appealing to stay. The changes proposed will allow more physician assistants to practice in the state, and that will benefit a lot of communities, including rural areas.
The bills now head to the PA House for their consideration.
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