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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.

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 May 11, 2012

 

Now is the time to call your Illinois State Senator and ask them to support HB 5104.  If you do not know who your Illinois State Senator is or need their office phone number, click here.  

May 2, 2012 was a big day for the Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants at the Illinois State Capitol. HB 5104 is a bill that IAPA proposes. 

  - The bill removes obsolete language in the PA Practice Act which states that physician assistants (PA) can be employed by, and practice in facilities operated by, DOC and DHS. This language was included when the Act was originally passed in 1987 to clarify that PAs working in these settings could continue to do so.   
 

 - The amendment allows physician assistants to provide services in a hospital, hospital affiliate or ambulatory surgical treatment center without a written supervision agreement.This means, there are no ratios in these practice settings.

 - The amendment provides that a physician may supervise up to 5 full-time equivalent physician assistants.  The allowable number of PAs must be reduced, however, by the number of collaborative agreements the supervising physician maintains.  Current law allows a physician to supervise only 2 PAs regardless of whether the PA is employed full-time or part-time.  This 1 to 2 ratio has not been increased for 15 years.

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April 17, 2012

Physician Assistant Advocacy to Illinois State Medical Society Delegates

If your supervising physician is a member of the Illinois State Medical Society, the IAPA requests your immediate assistance.

Linked is an issue brief that outlines physicians to support an increased supervisory ratio from one supervising physician to two PAs.  This issue is being discussed as a resolution submitted in the Illinois State Medical Society's House of Delegates this weekend, April 20-22, 2012.  Their revised policy could increase supervision to 5 mid-level providers. 

If your supervising physician agrees, they must call or email their County ISMS Delegate. 

The PAs in Illinois are close to increasing the ratio, but we need your critical and immediate assistance.  Don't wait.  Act now.

For more information on this issue, contact the IAPA at 800-975-9344

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March 29, 2012

HB 5104, our technical bill that removes obsolete language from the PA Practice Act, passed the floor of the House at the State Capitol today at 2:20 p.m.  The bill now moves to the Senate.  Our sponsor in the Senate will be Senator Terry Link from Lincolnshire, IL

HB 5105, the ratio bill has been held in the House Health Care Licenses Committee.  The Illinois State Medical Society will be discussing the ratio issue in their House of Delegates meeting on April 20-22, 2012.  Please discuss this issue with your supervising physician.  Ask them to call theri ISMS Delegate and support an increase in the supervising physician to PA ratio.  It will increase access to quality healthcare, especially in Southern Illinois.  It will settle issues with full time and part-time PAs.
 

On another note, last week the Hospital Sisters Healthcare System circulated their Spring 2012 magazine, Inspiring Health, to their customers.  Inside was an article called, "Deciphering Duties: Nurse Practitioners + Physician Assistants."  The article contained grave inaccuracies regarding the practice privileges of PAs.  IAPA strongly vocalized our objections to these inaccuracies, and the HSHS will be sending out new information to their customers.  This is an example of the Illinois Acadamy of Physician Assistants brings as the voice of the PA profession to other organizations.  We did this on behalf of all PAs in the State of Illinois.  This is only a small reason why you should be a member of the IAPA. 

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February 29, 2012

HB 5104, our technical bill that removes obsolete language from the PA Practice Act, passed out of the Illinois House Health Care Licenses Committee.  Rep. Skip Saviano introduced the bill and it passed without discussion or testimony.  Paul Houk, PA-C, from the Springfield Clinic, was on hand to testify.  

IAPA asks that you contact your Illinois Representative, asking them to support HB 5104 when it moves to the House Floor for a vote.

If you do not know who your Illinois Representative is, click here.

 

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<