05/15/2025

OAPA Advances Preceptor Tax Incentive

The Ohio Association of Physician Assistants tirelessly advocates for Ohio PAs, advancing legislation that supports the PA profession and enhances quality, cost-effective, and accessible healthcare.

HB 96, Ohio's operating budget for the next biennium (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2027) passed the Ohio House in April and is working its way through the Ohio Senate.

OAPA is collaborating with key stakeholders to advocate for provisions that support the PA profession, specifically, a proposed amendment to establish a preceptor tax incentive.

On May 14, OAPA Past President and Government Affairs Committee member Melissa Bowlby, MHA, MSBS, PA-C, DFAAPA, provided Interested Party Testimony to the Ohio Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee in support of the preceptor tax incentive, stating:

"OAPA is proposing a preceptor tax credit amendment to the state budget to provide a $1,000 non-refundable tax credit to physicians, APRNs, and PAs that serve a minimum of three preceptorships in a calendar year. Taking on students for clinical rotations is rewarding, but also time consuming and a burden beyond the already difficult work of providing patient care. Ohio lawmakers can show their support to those who are educating the healthcare workforce of tomorrow by adopting this common sense, modest preceptor tax credit."

In her comments, Bowlby described the role of a preceptor and the importance of their efforts to support PA students through clinical rotations. She emphasized that with so many PA programs in Ohio, we need several thousand clinical rotations annually, each supported by a preceptor. An income tax credit to incentivize more providers to serve as preceptors is one way to help address this workforce challenge.

OAPA has been leading this effort on behalf of PA students and PAs serving as preceptors, but our proposed amendment also supports medical and nursing students and the physicians and APRNs who serve alongside PAs as preceptors. As Bowlby described in her testimony:

"We are proud to join with our physician and advanced practice registered nurse colleagues to ensure that preceptors of those professions are also included in this tax incentive, as it takes a village to educate the next generation of top-tier providers who will support improved health here in Ohio."

OAPA will continue our pursuit of this preceptor tax incentive and will keep our members apprised of developments. The final budget is expected to be signed by Governor DeWine by the end of June 2025.

To further help us advance PA practice through government advocacy, please support the OAPA Legislative Fund!