The Alliance submitted a letter of support to Sen. Erin Tobin, Vice-Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, for Senate Bill 134.
Senate Bill 134 would modernize Physician Assistant (PA) practice and remove the outdated collaborative agreement with a physician in order to put all advanced practice providers on equal footing. The bill would allow experienced PAs to collaborate with, consult with, or refer to the appropriate member of the health care team. This important legislation would help increase patient access to health care services for all South Dakotans, especially as rural and medically underserved communities across the state are facing a serious health care provider shortage impeding their access to care.
The Alliance believes that PAs should be able to perform at the top of their licenses in order to expand access and eliminate barriers to health care. As a telehealth advocacy organization, the Alliance believes PAs are an essential component to expanding access to care through the use of telehealth. This is especially important for patients who live in rural or underserved communities or in provider shortage areas and therefore may not have access to services they need where they reside. PAs have also been critical to expanding access to care and filling gaps in the health care workforce throughout the pandemic.
Read the full letter here and below:
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