So the PANRE debate is officially on.
The NCCPA sent out an email blast to all Physician Assistants in their database during the week of February 8th, as promised. The email came from NCCPA President/CEO Dawn Morton-Rias, and requested feedback from every PA. The email asks PAs to complete a survey to determine the best way to remodel the PANRE, or the recertification process for all PAs. Since then, there’s been an outpouring of remarks all over social media. There’s been a lot more criticism than I think anyone expected, including the NCCPA. Here’s the NCCPA’s proposal, in detail.
Many claim the survey sent out is skewed from the very beginning due to its questions; the questions don’t ask whether or not practitioners WANT a change but rather what change they do WANT. There’s little to no option for “no change”. And I agree with them on that front. What I think PAs are missing is the entire year of 2015 that the NCCPA spent enlisting opinions regarding the recertification process. There were opportunities for people to get involved much earlier on. This new proposed recertification process did not appear out of thin air, people…
The NCCPA seems to be taking a lot of heat since the survey release. Their Facebook page is um, very colorful right now. See for yourself. It seems that an open survey sent directly to each PAs inbox wasn’t enough room for some to voice their opinions. The NCCPA also welcomes input via an email to newpanre@nccpa.net, fyi.
The AAPA also has a lot to say on the topic. They have some great summaries up to bring PAs up to speed on what’s going on and their Timeline is a great resource. They’re also providing a more censored, respectful forum for discussion of the topic. On January 11, 2016 the AAPA sent the following request to the NCCPA:
“On behalf of the AAPA Board of Directors and the AAPA House of Delegates, we respectfully request that you postpone final consideration of NCCPA’s recently proposed changes to the PANRE testing regime until late June 2016, in order to give the PA profession’s representative body – the AAPA House of Delegates – the opportunity to debate and determine its position on the matter.”
On February 16, 2016, the NCCPA decided to honor their request and extend the public comment period to June 15, 2016. The AAPA and NCCPA continue to work together with all current and former PA-Cs to come to a consensus on this issue.
In conclusion, I think we have a long way to go before any changes are decided and even longer before they’re implemented. Keep doing your awesome work in medicine until then, PAs! Onward.