[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 166 (Wednesday, December 15, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H8368-H8369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              SUPPORTING NATIONAL PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT WEEK

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 1600) supporting the critical role of the 
physician assistant profession and supporting the goals and ideals of 
National Physician Assistant Week, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1600

       Whereas more than 75,000 physician assistants in the United 
     States provide high-quality, cost-effective medical care in 
     virtually all health care settings and in every medical and 
     surgical specialty;
       Whereas the physician assistant profession's patient-
     centered, team-based approach reflects the changing realities 
     of health care delivery and fits well into the patient-
     centered medical home model of care, as well as other 
     integrated models of care management;
       Whereas approximately 47 percent of physician assistants 
     currently practice in primary care and emergency medicine, 
     regularly providing access to needed medical care to 
     underserved populations such as frontier communities, rural 
     towns, the urban poor, and at-risk groups (such as the 
     elderly);
       Whereas physician assistants practice in teams with 
     physicians and extend the reach of medicine and the promise 
     of improved health to the most remote and in-need communities 
     of our Nation;
       Whereas nearly 300,000,000 patient visits were made to 
     physician assistants in 2009;
       Whereas physician assistants may provide medical care, have 
     their own patient panels, and are granted prescribing 
     authority in all 50 States;
       Whereas the physician assistant profession was created 40 
     years ago in response to health care workforce shortages and 
     is a key part of the solution to today's health care 
     workforce shortage;
       Whereas the American Academy of Physician Assistants 
     recognizes October 6-12, 2010 as National Physician Assistant 
     Week; and
       Whereas the physician assistant profession is positioned to 
     be able to adapt and respond to the evolving needs of the 
     health care system by virtue of--
       (1) comprehensive educational programs that prepare 
     physician assistants for a career in general medicine; and
       (2) a team-based approach to providing patient-centered 
     medical care: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports--
       (1) the critical role of the physician assistant profession 
     for the significant impact the profession has made and will 
     continue to make in health care; and
       (2) the goals and ideals of National Physician Assistant 
     Week.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Pallone) and the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Terry) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material in the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Nebraska?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, House Resolution 1600 recognizes the critical role of 
physician assistants in our health care system by designating October 
6-12 of 2010 as National Physician Assistant Week.
  Physician assistants, or PAs, practice in a collaborative setting 
with physicians, nurses, and other health care professionals to extend 
the reach of medical care to more patients. Their role helps patients 
have better access to high-quality medical care, particularly for 
underserved populations. Throughout the Nation, approximately 75,000 
PAs provide high-quality and cost-effective care in various health 
settings. With the passage of health reform, millions of Americans will 
enter our health care system, and PAs will play a vital role in helping 
our healthcare workforce meet this challenge.
  I want to applaud the leadership of Representative McCollum on this 
issue, and I would urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  As an original sponsor of this resolution, I rise in support of House 
Resolution 1600, supporting the critical role of the physician 
assistant profession and supporting the goals and ideals of National 
Physician Assistant Week. I would also like to thank Congresswoman 
Betty McCollum of Minnesota for bringing to our attention the important 
services physician assistants provide and congratulate her for getting 
this resolution to the floor.
  Physician assistants practice medicine under a physician's 
supervision. A PA's practice can include diagnostic, therapeutic, and 
preventive care. On any given day, a PA could prescribe medication, 
order and interpret x-rays, attend surgery, give advice to patients, 
and may also have supervisory responsibilities. A PA is supervised by a 
physician, but at facilities where the physician is present for only a 
few days each week, the PA may be a patient's principal health care 
provider. This increases the flexibility of the medical profession and 
ensures patients have access to quality care.
  PAs in every State are required to pass the Physician Assistant 
National Certifying Examination. In order to take this exam, a 
candidate must be a graduate of an accredited PA program, which 
includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical training in several 
specialty areas. To maintain their certification, PAs must complete 
many hours of continuing medical education and a recertification 
examination. PAs are highly educated, highly trained, work extremely 
hard, and are a vital cog in our Nation's health care system. I hope 
all will join me in saluting our Nation's PAs for their commitment and 
dedication, and I urge your support for this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to 
the Congresswoman from Minnesota who is the sponsor of the bill, Ms. 
Betty McCollum.
  Ms. McCOLLUM. I would like to thank Chairman Waxman and I would like 
to thank Representative Pallone for their help with this bill, as well 
as my colleague on the other side of the aisle, Congressman Terry.
  House Resolution 1600 acknowledges the critical role of physicians 
assistants by designating a week in 2010 as National Physician 
Assistant Week.
  Forty years ago, the position of PA was created in response to a 
national health care workforce shortage. Over 20 years ago, I had the 
honor and the privilege in Minnesota of helping to write the rules for 
PAs to function and provide health care in Minnesota. I was the 
consumer member on the board, and I had a great learning curve working 
with doctors, PAs, hospitals, health care clinics, and patients from 
all over Minnesota in making sure that PAs were able to address this 
workforce shortage. And today, they continue to be an integral part of 
our health care system, practicing in all health care settings and 
specialties.

                              {time}  1130

  Physician assistant service will be vital as more Americans, our 
health care system and we prepare for an aging population--the baby 
boomers. PAs work, as has been mentioned, side

[[Page H8369]]

by side with physicians, nurses and other professionals in providing 
high-quality, cost-effective health care. They work in rural and 
underserved communities and ensure patients can receive the care that 
they need when they need it.
  I want to thank the physicians assistants and the American Academy of 
Physician Assistants for all the work that they do to care for patients 
and to keep America healthy.
  Lastly, I sincerely want to thank my colleagues for their bipartisan 
support so we could bring this bill forward.
  Thank you to Chairman Waxman again for bringing this resolution.
  Mr. TERRY. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time.
  I would be remiss on a resolution recognizing PAs not to recognize my 
brother-in-law's brother, Val, Val Valgora. He passed away several 
years ago. He was a PA back in the seventies. I had never heard of a 
physician assistant before. Val was instrumental in the State of 
Nebraska in expanding the use of physician assistants. He worked with 
the University of Nebraska Medical Center and then on to LSU to help 
create and expand the educational component for PAs. So, at least in 
the State of Nebraska, Val Valgora is one of our legendary PAs.
  I just wanted to thank him and take this opportunity to recognize his 
accomplishments for the State of Nebraska.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I urge passage of the resolution, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Pallone) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1600, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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