The Wisconsin Academy of Physician Assistants held PA Day at the Capitol on May 14. Nearly 50 PAs from across the state came to Madison to advocate in support of its Collaboration And Rural Expansion of Services (CARES) Act. The soon-to-be-introduced bill enhances physician-PA team practice, preserves the PA role in a competitive health care marketplace and expands access for patients – especially in rural areas. Minnesota, Michigan, Illinois and Indiana have recently enacted PA modernization laws and over a dozen states will consider similar bills in 2019.

PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications and often serve as a patient’s primary health care provider. There are currently more than 2,700 PAs in Wisconsin.