Heck seeks more physician assistants for VA
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Joe Heck introduced legislation Thursday aimed at alleviating a shortage of physician assistants at VA health facilities.
The bill would establish a five-year pilot program under which the Department of Veterans Affairs would provide assistance to former medics and corpsmen training to become physician assistants in exchange for a period of service in VA clinics after earning their certification as a PA.
"With 23 percent of PA slots within the VA open, a program like this is long overdue," said Heck, a Nevada Republican.
Aside from relieving the physician assistants shortage, the bill would also provide additional job opportunities for service members as they return to civilian life, he said.
Heck, a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat of Harry Reid who is retiring, introduced the legislation with Rep. Annie Kuster, D-N.H., a member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee.
"This bill will allow veterans with medical skills to apply their training and knowledge in the service of fellow veterans, while at the same time helping to reduce shortages in one of the VA's top five critical occupations," she said.
The pilot program would rely partly on an existing VA Health Professionals Education Assistance Program to provide the educational assistance to former medics and corpsmen.
The bill has been endorsed by the Veterans Affairs Physician Assistant Association.
"Physician Assistants provide high quality, cost effective medical care, and are part of the solution in improving access to care for our veterans. This bill helps remove some of the challenges in recruiting and retaining PAs in the VA system," said Rubina DaSilva, president of the association.
Also supporting the bill are the Vietnam Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, American Academy of Physician Assistants, Naval Association of Physician Assistants, Blinded Veterans of America, National Guard Association of the United States, the Retired Enlisted Association, and the American Federation of Government Employees.
Contact Peter Urban at purban@reviewjournal.com or at 202-783-1760. Find him on Twitter: @PUrbanDC
