Scope of Practice and CPH Funding in the Headlines
MSSNY President Dr. Paul Pipia spoke to Capital Tonight last Friday about the continued push in the executive budget to remove physician supervision requirements from PA practice. Dr. Pipia reiterated MSSNY’s position that PAs are not a substitute for trained physicians, stating that the solution to New York’s health care workforce shortage is to make the state a better place for physicians to work, rather than relying on PAs to provide the same degree of care. “They’re a valued member of our team, but they need to have the physician drive the patient’s care,” said Dr. Pipia.
MSSNY member Dr. Leslie Marino also took advocacy into her own hands with a letter to the editor in Newsday urging New York State to reconsider its decision to cut funding for the Committee for Physician Health. Dr. Marino stated, “The Committee for Physician Health provides confidential assistance to physicians struggling with stress, substance abuse and other mental health disorders. It is a guiding light, helping physicians seek evaluation and treatment so they can provide top-notch care to their patients.” She added, “Doctors are people, too. We grapple with stress that can seep into our lives and affect our ability to perform our duties. This program has been vital in supporting physicians over the years. It is funded by physicians, for physicians.”
