A state lawmaker is proposing Michigan make some changes to attract more physician assistants.
16 states are currently participating in the PA Compact, which allows PAs to work across those states, but Michigan isn’t one of the participants. Now, state Representative Kurt VanderWall has co-sponsored House Bill 4309, which would allow PAs to cross state lines to practice health.
Vanderwall says it’ll improve healthcare access for patients, especially in very rural areas like northern Michigan and the U.P.
“In some cases, they don’t feel comfortable with a doctor that’s in their area and they need to go to somebody else and it could be several hours,”” Vanderwall said. “So this will expand that opportunity and, I believe, the outcomes will be huge for our rural districts and really truly statewide, especially on the mental health side.”
HB 4309 would allow properly licensed PAs from other states come to Michigan to practice. Ohio and Wisconsin already have such arrangements.
