About OSPA

I have written previously that I am looking forward to spring ’07 when we can reflect on all we have accomplished together. Well, spring is now here and it has been a good year.

OSPA is having an outstanding legislative year. We currently have five bills in Salem. These are detailed in the legislative update article on page 2. In summary, these bills affect the composition of the Board of Medical Examiners PA Committee; place the ability of PAs to use “agents” into Oregon State law; remove the sunset clause on a law which mandates insurance reimbursement of rural PAs and extends this mandate to all areas of Oregon; allow PAs to authorize handicapped hunting and fishing licenses; and improve the ability of PAs to practice within the workers compensation system including the ability to authorize initial time loss in all areas of Oregon.

Successful legislation requires extensive work through meetings and discussion with concerned parties before and during the legislative process. There is also much that goes on behind the scenes. All of these areas have been facilitated by the experienced guidance of our lobbyist Marshall Coba, combined with generous contributions of time by members of our legislative committee chaired by Scott Beyer, PA-C. Additionally, our “PA Day at the Capitol” was an outstanding success this year and OSPA is very appreciative of the many PAs and students who contributed their time to this effort. There were far more attendees than I have seen in the past. With the help of our lobbyist, the Senate subcommittee meeting to review our bills was scheduled the day after our “PA Day at the Capitol”, while PA issues were still fresh in the minds of lawmakers. All of our bills were heard and passed out of committee with a “do pass” recommendation in less than 15 minutes and the initial momentum created by this great start continues today……Outstanding work by all.

In another area, progress continues to be made in resolving the issues that arise when nurses refuse patient care orders from physician assistants. In conjunction with the Oregon Medical Association Executive Committee, the PA Section of the OMA along with representatives from OSPA met with the Oregon Nurses Association in December to discuss changes to the Oregon Administrative Rules. Final outcomes will be announced soon, and we hope to put this longstanding issue to rest (see OMA update on page 4 of this newsletter).

In the Board room, OSPA completed and approved the 2007 budget prior to the beginning of th fiscal year for the first time in over five years. The Board of Directors also approved the first updated policy and procedure manual since 1987 and established a “bylaws, policy & procedure committee” to review, develop and present future revisions to the OSPA Board for consideration. If you would like to serve on a committee please let the OSPA office know.

On a more current note, Howard Prairie Lake fishing season opened on April 22 and, now that Mark Tabor has taken over as President, I expect to have a busy summer ahead feeding all those fish. It has been a busy and rewarding year. I would like to thank all of you for being members of OSPA—you do make a difference.

Message from OSPA’s Immediate Past President