Author: Jonathan Williams

The VAPA legislation that creates a patient-care team model and replaces the term “supervision” with “collaboration and consultation” will take effect on July 1st. The Board of Medicine is currently in the process of amending the PA Regulations to conform to the legislation.

We have been informed by staff of the Board of Medicine that there should be no expectation or requirement from the Board that PAs change their existing practice agreement.

If you have any questions, please contact VAPA Executive Director, Jonathan Williams.

Please find important updates to the CMS Medicare Part D opioid prescribing guidelines which go into effect on January 1, 2019.

On February 9, 2018, Congress passed and the President signed into law a provision that will allow PAs to manage and provide hospice care to terminally-ill Medicare patients. The law modernizes outdated Medicare law with language specific to PAs in the Medicare Patient Access to Hospice Act.

As of January 1, 2019, PAs will be able to manage and provide hospice care to Medicare beneficiaries. Like physicians and APRNs, PAs will be able to be selected by patients as “attending physicians” for the purpose of Medicare hospice care. PAs will also be able to be employed by hospice organizations.