Virginians to Receive Better Health Care Faster

Feb 14, 2019 by AFP

RICHMOND, Va. – Americans for Prosperity-Virginia (AFP-VA) celebrated the passage of bipartisan legislation that will make health care more affordable and more accessible for Virginians. HB 1952 expands the permitted scope of practice for physician assistants and allows doctors to responsibly delegate aspects of care that physician assistants can provide without their supervision.

“The current health care provider shortage — especially in rural Virginia — presented a pressing need to expand scope of practice for physician assistants,” said Americans for Prosperity-Virginia State Director JC Hernandez. “This legislation will enable physician assistants to practice the full range of services they’ve been trained to provide, which means more health care providers in the Commonwealth. More health care providers means lower costs and shorter wait times for patients. This legislation is a crucial step on the path to ensuring every Virginian has access to quality health care.”

Earlier this month AFP-Virginia backed health care legislation allowing Virginians access to health care through the use of telemedicine passed both the House and the Senate with sweeping bipartisan support.

Additional information:

Mercatus Center: Scope-of-Practice Laws

Study: The Effects of Expanded Nurse Practitioner and Physician Assistant Scope of Practice on Medicaid Patient Access