Background:

AB 1501 documents the intent of the Legislature to evaluate the Physician Assistant Board (PAB) through a sunset review oversight process, including recommended measures for improvement. Through the work of CAPA and many stakeholders, AB 1501 now includes a crucial amendment toward modernizing PA practice. AB 1501 will increase physician to PA ratios from 1:4 to 1:8 in all practice settings.

Follow-up:

The Legislature expresses its desire to see a "comprehensive review of practice agreement structures." Though the Legislature's desire is clear, the language leaves open for discussion what or which organization(s) will convene the review, while specifying that the PAB has the discretion to "collaborate" with all stakeholders in such a review. CAPA will continue to stay on top of the process and remain actively involved when/if more PA advocacy is needed.

As we monitor the developments of AB 1501, CAPA remains ever thankful to its members for demonstrating PA unity, especially those who took time out of their schedule to provide public comment at the Assembly Business & Professions Committee, as well as meet with legislators to eloquently articulate who we are and what we really do in the healthcare system. Your voices were heard.

The brainstorming behind when and how to push for practice agreement and ratio reform began almost a year ago, demonstrating the kind of strategic planning and organization that goes into a complex and challenging advocacy effort. Ed Howard, CAPA’s lead lobbyist, generously donated a percentage of his time, permitting CAPA to add Angela Blanchard and the superb firm of Political Solutions to its lobbying team. The combined work of CAPA leaders, Ed, and Political Solutions produced significant research, many pages of legislative drafts, and countless meetings that culminated in ratio expansion amendments added to the PAB's Sunset Review Bill, AB 1501.

Finally, none of this would have been possible without PAB President, Vasco Deon Kidd's work laying the foundation for inclusion of these amendments by authoring a 2024 editorial about national trends in PA ratios and testifying in support at the Business & Professions Committee hearings. Without his leadership and support, ratio expansion would likely have had to wait until CAPA ran its own bill in a future legislative session. Indeed, the exact ratio amended in the bill (8:1) was specifically offered by President Kidd as worthy of support in response to legislators' questioning. Therefore, the PAB and PA Kidd have CAPA's enduring gratitude for visionary leadership in advancing the cause of patient well-being through this bill.

Personally, as your current president, I would like to acknowledge how hard our former president, Jeremy Meis, worked on this effort and how important our staff at CAPA are in every step that we take in moving forward. All this underscores that it is clear these kinds of changes demand the full effort of many, not just a few, to accomplish great things. In the end, this all comes back to increasing access to quality healthcare for all those we serve here in California.

Thank you for your commitment to CAPA and always if there are any questions please don't hesitate to reach out.

Franklin "Sonny" Cline, PA-C
President