Physician Assistants Employed by the Federal Government

Abstract

Objective Physician assistants (PAs) are health professionals who have received advance medical training and are licensed to diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and serve as principal health care provider. Although the U.S. federal government is the largest single employer of PAs, at the same time little is known about them across the wide array of diverse settings and agencies. The objective of this project was to determine the census of PAs in federal employment, their location, and personal characteristics. This included approximating the number of uniformed PAs. Taking stock of a unique labor force sets the stage for more granular analyses of how and where PAs are utilized and are deployed. Methods No one central database identifies all federally employed PAs. To undertake this project, three sources were examined. Data were derived from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Uniformed PA numbers were the result of networking with senior chiefs in the military services and the U.S. Public Health Service. The data were collolated and summarized for comparison and discussion. Results As of 2018, approximately 5,200 PAs were dispersed in most branches and agencies of the government that provide health care services, including the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, Health and Human Services, Justice, and Homeland Security. Federally employed PAs are civil servants or hold a commission in the uniformed services (ie, Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Public Health Service). Most PAs are in clinical roles, although a few hundred are in management positions. Approximately 81% of civilian PAs have had less than 15 years of federal employment. Conclusion The diverse utilization and deployment of PAs validate the importance of the role they serve as medical professionals in the federal government. From 2008 to 2019, PA employment in the federal government grew by approximately 50% supporting the forecast that substantial national PA growth is on track.

Physician Assistants in Geriatric Medicine

“…The use of self-report data is always subject to misinterpretation of the question and the option of not completing the algorithm-driven questionnaire embedded in the NCCPA secure portal (Barnhill 2017). However, survey participation and validation attestation research suggest the NCCPA data are reliable and overlap well using federal data comparisons (Smith et al, 2020). This authentication is reassuring that the reported results are valid and representative.…”

Public Policies that Shaped the American Physician Assistant

“…This reimbursement discount for PA/APRN services applies to the office or clinic setting (not in a hospital). Essentially CMS requires that the physician be part of the patient encounter during the initial visit for the medical condition; establish a diagnosis and treatment plan; and be on-site when a PA or APRN renders a follow-up service [ 30 ]. The GAO reviewed the progress made by the DHHS to implement the Rural Health Clinic Services Act, the extent to which Medicare beneficiaries use the clinics.…”

“…Two USPHS PAs became Admirals raising the visibility of flag rank status for uniformed PAs. A growth of PAs in federal service also brought to light that the federal government was the largest employer of PAs [ 30 ].…”

Physician assistants in geriatric medical care

“…The use of selfreport data is always subject to misinterpretation of the question and the option of not completing the algorithmdriven questionnaire embedded in the NCCPA secure portal [12]. However, survey participation and validation attestation research suggest the NCCPA data are reliable and overlap well using federal data comparisons [13]. This authentication is reassuring that the reported results are valid and representative.…”