07/24/2024

Legislative VICTORY: PA Licensure Compact Signed Into Ohio Law

SB 28, the Physician Assistant Licensure Compact bill, has been signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine on July 24, 2024, after receiving nearly unanimous support in both the Ohio Senate and House.

This legislation represents an expansion of PA authority to help improve access to quality, cost-effective, accessible health care. Ohio now joins 12 other states, with more to come, who are promoting licensure portability to better support the PA workforce. 

This legislative victory is the culmination of many years of work by volunteers and staff at both the national and state level. The compact, supported by a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, was jointly developed in 2019 by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB), the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), the National Commission on Certification of Physicians Assistants (NCCPA), and The Council of State Governments (CSG). The model legislation was then adapted for Ohio by OAPA Government Affairs Committee Chair, Rev. Josanne Kissel Pagel, M.Div., MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, C-EBS, Karuna®RMT. 

For several years, Pagel and OAPA’s lobbying firm worked behind the scenes to move this bill forward in the Ohio legislature. Attempts were made to work with the physician groups as they advanced their own compact, and guidance was sought from the State Medical Board of Ohio on how to best pursue support of the compact. Efforts to find a bill sponsor were a significant challenge until the legislation was finally introduced in January 2023 by sponsor Senator Kristina D. Roegner (District 27 | R). After five Senate Health Committee hearings, the bill passed the Ohio Senate in June 2023. It then languished on the House side for months until finally achieving a hearing in April 2024. After four House Health Provider Services Committee hearings, the legislation passed the Ohio House in June 2024 and finally advanced to the Governor’s desk. 

Upon the bill’s passage by the House and concurrence by the Senate back in June 2024, then OAPA President Matthew Freado shared this statement:

“The passage of Ohio SB28, the PA Licensure Compact Bill, marks a significant advancement for the physician assistant profession and healthcare in Ohio. This legislation represents a crucial step forward in enhancing access to high-quality and specialty care for our patients who live across state lines. By streamlining the licensure process, PAs can now more efficiently obtain authorization to practice in multiple states, thereby expanding their ability to serve diverse patient populations. As a result, healthcare organizations in Ohio are now better equipped to meet the needs of their patients, ensuring more timely, effective and efficient care. We thank the Ohio General Assembly, and specifically Senator Roegner for her leadership. We also thank the members of OAPA and leadership of AAPA for their support and advocacy. This bill underscores the PA community's commitment to advancing the PA profession and improving healthcare delivery.”

Despite the excitement of Ohio joining the PA Compact, PAs cannot yet apply for privileges, as it will take 18-24 months to operationalize the compact with the other states that have agreed to participate. The inaugural Compact Commission is set to meet in Fall 2024 to begin this process. OAPA will remain engaged to help ensure a successful rollout of the compact for the benefit of Ohio PAs and patients.

OAPA would like to thank all members who reached out to their elected representatives in recent months to encourage the passage of Senate Bill 28, and to those who have provided financial support to the OAPA Legislative Fund over the years. OAPA has spent many thousands of lobbying dollars since 2019 to steward the passage of this piece of legislation, not including the volunteer time and energy devoted to drafting, testifying on behalf of, and monitoring progress of the bill over its lifetime.

The effort to advance practice for Ohio PAs is ongoing and member support means everything to the fight. To help us replenish our funds so that we can continue to be your legislative advocate for the PA profession, working to eliminate barriers so that you may practice in Ohio at the top of your license, please support the OAPA Legislative Fund today. Thank you!

For more information about the PA Licensure Compact:

Overview: https://www.pacompact.org/about-pa-licensure-compact/

History: https://www.pacompact.org/history/

Current Status Nationally: https://www.pacompact.org/

FAQ: https://www.pacompact.org/faq/

AAPA’s FAQ: https://www.aapa.org/advocacy-central/pa-licensure-compact/

AAPA Article: https://www.aapa.org/news-central/2024/07/pa-licensure-compact-update-ohio-becomes-thirteenth-state-to-enter-pa-compact/