The North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants’ annual advocacy day at the Legislature was one for the books, with a record amount of 79 physician assistants (PA) and PA students traveling from across the state to Raleigh for the 2023 PA Day at the Legislature on March 22nd, 2023.

The 2023 PA Day at the Legislature was focused on recognizing and sharing information about HB 75/SB 47, which modernizes the PA practice laws to better recognize the reality of how PAs and physicians work together to provide the highest quality care to patients. HB 75 passed the House in February 2023, and NCAPA looks forward to working with the Senate next to finalize this crucial legislation.

The day started off with PAs and PA students gathering outside the State Legislative Building in downtown Raleigh with CEO, Emily Adams and NCAPA staff. Advocates began the day by networking as a large group, then meeting in their assigned small groups led by veteran PA advocates and discussing important talking points, such as:

• Optimal Team Practice, which is both a response to external pressures and the need to update PA laws and regulations with the context of current practice environments;
• Ensuring patients maintain access to their PA by explicitly naming PAs in legislation, including, but not limited to, loan repayment, telehealth and related to the pandemic;
• Sharing the reality that the vast majority of PAs work in team-based settings and that patients benefit from team-based medicine.

Afterwards, PA Day Advocates were welcomed for a meet & greet and photo with Representative Timothy Reeder, MD (R-Pitt) on the House Floor, before hearing from Representative Kristin Baker, MD (R-Cabarrus) and Representative Wayne Sasser (R-Stanly) on the importance of legislative advocacy.

After an insightful question & answer session with Reps. Reeder, Baker, and Sasser, PA Day advocates set forth on numerous meetings and appointments with local lawmakers, thanking House of Representative leaders for their support and informing their Senate legislators about the bill.

The day ended with a session in the NC House where PAs were recognized by legislators on the floor for their visit and continued work for North Carolina patients and communities.

With PA advocacy in mind, PA Day at the Legislature was just the beginning. NCAPA is dedicated to cultivating the relationships with legislators in order to shape the future of the PA profession in NC, and help ensure that North Carolina is the best place to be a PA.

📸 A special thank you to Co-Sponsor Representative Timothy Reeder, M.D., Primary Sponsor Representative Kristin Baker, M.D., and Primary Sponsor Representative Wayne Sasser for speaking with our PA Day advocates on PA Day.