Advocacy

MAPA's Advocacy Committee working tirelessly to protect your ability to practice medicine.

As the only organization solely dedicated to representing Michigan PAs, MAPA is your strongest ally in ensuring that your voice is heard at every level of decision-making.

Our committee actively builds and nurtures relationships with key healthcare stakeholders, engages with legislators, state agencies, licensing bodies, and the Governor to influence critical issues affecting your profession. We’re committed to empowering Michigan PAs by safeguarding your practice rights and promoting the value you bring to healthcare in our state. 

Support Patient-Led Care

Chair Ron Stavale
Vice Chair Garrett Smigelski

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:

Yasmine Affes

Leena Alhawati

Tyler Amores

Alison Badger

Jon Borton

Nicole Rataj Casady

Michael Coraci

Samantha Danek

Ryan Desgrange

Brittney Douglas

Matt Edwards

Yolanda Freeman-Hildreth

Brian Gallagher

Antonio Giannelli

Thadd Gormas

Ken Gorney

Brian Guindon

Patrick Handlin

Courtney Hige

Anika Jenks

William Kammel

Kara Keyes

Dennis Marien

Mathew Miller

Marc Moote

Michelle Petropoulos

Jennifer Pletcher

Charles Regan

Hannah Richards

Sarah Luna Salman

Sarah Scantamburlo

Rachel Snabes

Susanna Storeng

Rebecca Cronin

Advocacy MAPA Minute Meet MAPA Membership Michigan PA Newsletter

HB 5114 Mental Health Code Hearing Update
HB 5114 Mental Health Code Hearing Update

This week, the House Behavioral Health Subcommittee met to vote in support of House Bill 5114 to add PAs to Michigan’s Mental Health Code. Supporting testimony was provided by Michigan leaders in behavioral health and psychiatric medicine. Continue Reading

Date posted04/2/2024


MAPA Supports Rules for Three Year PA License
MAPA Supports Rules for Three Year PA License

MAPA Executive Director Thadd Gormas submitted a memorandum of support for updates to rules impacting Michigan PAs this month. Continue Reading

Date posted03/1/2024


How Does PA Education Compare?
How Does PA Education Compare?

In the intricate web of healthcare, the roles of various medical professionals interweave to provide comprehensive patient care. PAs, Physicians and NPs play a vital part in delivering quality healthcare services, but they differ in their training... Continue Reading

Date posted02/19/2024


PA Licensure Compact Gains Momentum
PA Licensure Compact Gains Momentum

Efforts to establish a Physician Assistant Licensure Compact in the U.S. are gaining traction, with Wisconsin becoming the newest state to join recently. Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed the bill into law Dec. 6, making Wisconsin the third state to join the compact this year behind Utah and Continue Reading

Date posted02/8/2024


Michigan HB 5114 Mental Health Code Hearing
Michigan HB 5114 Mental Health Code Hearing

Last week, the House Behavioral Health Subcommittee met to consider House Bill 5114 to add PAs to Michigan’s Mental Health Code. Supporting testimony was provided by Michigan leaders in behavioral health and psychiatric medicine. Continue Reading

Date posted02/7/2024


Michigan Healthcare Leaders Standup for Patient-Led Care
Michigan Healthcare Leaders Standup for Patient-Led Care

The Michigan Academy of Physician Associates (MAPA) today issued the following statement in support of the introduction of the Patient-Led Care Package. Continue Reading

Date posted02/4/2024


Workplace Violence Bills Signed Into Law
Workplace Violence Bills Signed Into Law

Healthcare workers should not have to fear violence in the workplace. MAPA supported the bills that Governor Witmer recently signed into law, revising fines and jail time for persons convicted of violence against healthcare workers. Continue Reading

Date posted12/6/2023


MSMS Proposed HB 4472 to Limit the Practice of PA Medicine
MSMS Proposed HB 4472 to Limit the Practice of PA Medicine

Click to view the MAPA Board of Directors' Statement regarding the legislation proposed by the Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) and the American Medical Association (AMA). Continue Reading

Date posted09/26/2023


State Representative Julie Rogers
State Representative Julie Rogers

Meet House Health Policy Chairwomen Julie Rogers representing Kalamazoo, Portage, and Comstock. She's got the muscles to prove it as a real-life physical therapist while serving her second term in the Michigan House of Representatives. Continue Reading

Date posted09/1/2023


Free Opioid Risk Training for Michigan PAs
Free Opioid Risk Training for Michigan PAs

Effective June 27, 2023, the DEA requires registered practitioners to meet a one-time, eight-hour training requirement on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. Continue Reading

Date posted09/1/2023


Are PAs Mental Health Providers?
Are PAs Mental Health Providers?

Michigan PAs provide Mental Health Care to tens of thousands of their patients every year. PAs still are not defined in the state’s Mental Health Code. Continue Reading

Date posted08/22/2023


PAs Included in Quick Action to Prevent Gun Violence
PAs Included in Quick Action to Prevent Gun Violence

On May 22nd of this year Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Senate Bill 83, Michigan’s red flag law, known as Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO). Michigan is the 21st State to pass such legislation and it is expected to go into effect in the Spring of 2024. Continue Reading

Date posted08/22/2023