05/29/2025

Government Affairs Update: Building Coalitions, Advancing Practice, Improving Patient Care

As we move through 2025, OAPA continues to prioritize building strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure the voice of Ohio's PAs is not only heard but valued in shaping our state's healthcare landscape. Recently, we've begun the process of reestablishing ourselves to three critical organizations: the Ohio State Medical Association (OSMA), the State Medical Board of Ohio (SMBO), and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (ODMHAS).

The goal of this outreach is simple but significant: establish open, ongoing dialogue and explore ways to collaborate to better meet Ohio patient needs. By opening these channels, OAPA hopes to create durable partnerships that advance shared priorities and foster mutual understanding.

Our first order of business was working collectively with OSMA to advance a preceptor tax credit. OAPA is leading this amendment request and doing so with the support of OSMA and OAAPN. Similarly, through our discussions with OSMA, we are supporting their legislative package focused on major insurance reform. These bills target the red tape and outdated practices that delay care and frustrate providers and patients. While OSMA has taken the lead, these issues affect all clinicians and our patients. We look to work side by side them to advance these much needed reforms.

PAs know firsthand how insurance companies can stand in the way of patient care. Medication denials are one of the most common and frustrating issues. The recent rollback in coverage for GLP-1 medications has left even diabetic patients unable to access vital treatment. And it doesn't stop there. Mental health, cardiac, GI, and COPD medications are frequently subject to barriers and delays.

We're also seeing a surge in lab-related billing issues. More patients receive unexpected bills for routine tests, creating fear and reluctance to follow up on necessary care.

Other common frustrations include imaging, preauthorization, restrictive physical therapy requirements, and insurance networks that exclude key specialists or services. Even essentials like home health, oxygen, CPAPs, and other DME are often delayed or denied, jeopardizing patient outcomes.

These are systemic issues. As clinicians coordinating care across settings, PAs are uniquely positioned to highlight the real-world impact these policies have on patients' lives.

That's why OAPA is joining the coalition for these bills. We're committed to lending our voice to the conversation on insurance reform. We'll continue to advocate for policies that reduce administrative burdens, increase access to care, and allow PAs to practice at the top of their license.

If you've encountered insurance-related issues, or any other practice barriers that impacted your ability to care for a patient, please share your story with us here. Your experiences are powerful tools in shaping better policy and a better future for PA practice in Ohio.

Matthew Freado, MBA, PA-C, is the Immediate Past President and Government Affairs Committee Chair of the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants.

The Government Affairs Committee supports the profession through advancing PA legislative priorities and removing barriers to practice. Please consider not only sharing your story, as requested above, but also providing financial support via the OAPA Legislative Fund.