06/11/2025
Ohio Leads the Way on PA Title Change: House Bill 353 Introduced
Today marks an exciting step forward for the PA profession in Ohio! House Bill 353, which seeks to update the professional title from physician assistant to physician associate, was formally introduced in the Ohio House by Representatives Brian Lampton and Gayle Manning.
The Ohio Association of Physician Assistants (OAPA) is proud to be one of the few states actively advancing this change. As a constituent organization of the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA), OAPA is working alongside national partners to ensure that our title reflects the education, responsibilities, and vital contributions of the PA profession in modern healthcare.
HB 353 is a straightforward bill that proposes updating the term "physician assistant" to "physician associate" throughout the Ohio Revised Code. This change aims to improve clarity for patients, healthcare organizations, and policymakers alike.
While the bill was initially introduced in October 2024, it did not receive a hearing before the end of the 135th General Assembly. Since the start of the new session in January 2025, OAPA has been working closely with our lobbying team at Hicks Partners and with AAPA to refine the language, educate legislators, and build strong support for reintroduction.
According to OAPA Government Affairs Committee Chair Matt Freado, MBA, PA-C, "The introduction of this bill marks the next step in advancing our profession here in Ohio. The title 'physician assistant' no longer reflects the training, responsibilities, or value that PAs bring to modern healthcare. Our education, roles, and responsibilities have evolved over the last 50 years. Clarity in titles is essential for reducing confusion among patients, legislators, and healthcare leaders, and we are committed to seeing this effort through."
We understand that the legislative process can be time-consuming, even for common sense updates like this, but OAPA is prepared to advocate every step of the way. The legislature will soon break for summer recess, but we expect movement on HB 353 to pick up in earnest this fall.
Stay tuned for updates and further ways you can support this historic change for our profession.
How You Can Help Today
Here are two easy, but important, ways that you can help advance HB 353:
- Spread the news! Share this article, and other resources like it (see list below) with your work colleagues, your professional network, even your family and friends. The more Ohioans who understand what PA title change is and why it is important, the better!
- Tell us your story. How has the title "physician assistant" caused confusion with your patients? If you have experienced practice limitations that impact your ability to provide care, whether related to title change or another legislative barrier, please complete this form to share your story.