Rhode Island Academy of Physician Assistants

04/28/2026

Head over to RIAPA.ORG for updates and check your email. Not getting emails from us? Then get on the list at RIAPA.ORG

04/28/2026

We couldn't have said it better ourselves!!!! This affects PAs as well. PAs need to stop this bill in its tracks.

🚨 LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT 🚨
Senate Bill 3184 – HEARING THURSDAY, APRIL 30

A proposed bill could restrict Nurse Practitioners from providing moderate (conscious) sedation—despite full practice authority, proper training, and credentialing.

⚠️ This will limit patient access to care and restrict NP scope of practice.

📍 HEARING DETAILS:
Rhode Island State House – Senate Chamber (Room 211)
🗓 Thursday, April 30
⏰ Arrive by 4:00–4:30 PM

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🛑 TAKE ACTION NOW:

✉️ SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY (OPPOSE)
Send before 3:00 PM on 4/30
📧 sen-murray@rilegislature.gov
📧 SLegislation@rilegislature.gov

👥 SHOW UP
Fill the room—even if you don’t plan to speak

🗣 TESTIFY
Share how this impacts your patients & practice

📢 SPREAD THE WORD
Tell NPs, PAs, physicians, and the public

⸻

💥 WE NEED A FULL COURT PRESS 💥
Your voice matters—let’s protect patient access and NP practice.

04/23/2026

The Rhode Island Department of Health has issued proposed regulations that, if implemented, would eliminate Physician Assistants as authorized providers of mild or moderate procedural sedation. We have actively opposed this measure in both the House and Senate, and will continue our efforts on May 14th at 2:00 pm. For updates and information, please visit

The RIAPA is a professional organization that serves the PA community in RI. We provide resources and advocate for public policy issues affecting both the PA profession and the patients we serve.

04/13/2026

Our Own Bill is up for a hearing tomorrow 4/14 in the House Health and Human Services Committee . This one needs to be SUPPORTED folks. This one is out there to help all of you !!!!

House Bill 7935 NEEDS TO BE SUPPORTED

HB 7935 Improves PA Practice in RI by clarifying collaboration, adds language to pave the way for the PA Licensing Compact, fixes a flaw in the CME requirement, allows PAs and NPs to clear student athletes to return to play in sports, and removes restrictive covenants that could prohibit you from practicing within a certain distance of your previous employer

PLEASE SUPPORT THIS BILL. You can support this bill by sending a copy of the draft email below.

TO: HouseHealthandHumanServices@rilegislature.gov with a copy to rep-donovan@rilegislature.gov

Subject: SUPPORT for HB-7935

Dear Chairwoman Donovan,

My name is _______ and I am a Physician Assistant working at _______ I am writing to you today to respectfully request your support for HB-7935.

This bill is being submitted to help clarify the definition of "collaboration" for PAs. It also adds a needed clause for criminal background checks that are required for PAs to participate in the multi-state licensing compact. It clarifies and adjusts the required CME cycle to match the biannual licensing cycle at the DOH. It prohibits restrictive covenants which allows me flexibility should I desire to change jobs. Lastly, it adds PAs to the "School and Youth Concussion Act" and the "Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act".

These changes would continue to enhance PAs practice by removing restrictions and enhancing access to healthcare for Rhode Islanders.

Thank you for your consideration and hopefully support of HB-7935.

Sincerely,

Deadline is tomorrow 4/14 at NOON!

04/12/2026

PAs WE NEED YOU! This Tuesday, April 14th the House HHS Committee will be considering bill 7740 which would stop PAs, NPs and RNs from administering mild to moderate conscious sedation without a CRNA or anesthesiologist on non intubated patients. This would be statewide and effect everyone from outpatient diagnostic imaging to inpatient procedural areas. Don't let changes to state law create additional burdens on patient care and further limit timely access for patients as well as restrict what you already do safely. GO TO HTTPS://RIAPA.ORG to see how to help.

03/31/2026

Here at the Statehouse working to push the PA Profession ahead and hopefully stopping the looming backslides. Who’s with me? https://riapa.org Rhode Island Academy of Physician Assistants

03/14/2026

ATTENTION RI PAs. Please visit us at https://riapa.org for very important legislative updates. There are bills that will directly affect all RI PAs. Some need to be supported and some need to be opposed. Please visit us, we need your help !!!

The RIAPA is a professional organization that serves the PA community in RI. We provide resources and advocate for public policy issues affecting both the PA profession and the patients we serve.

02/16/2026

1. PAs are not as educated or experienced as NPs are.
2. PAs can’t prescribe and NPs can.
3. PAs need to be supervised and have everything cosigned and NPs do not.
4. PAs lack the education, knowledge and training to handle complex cases.
5. PAs increase the risk of harm to patients.
6. PAs are just the systems way to save costs over physicians.
7. PAs dilute the quality of care in healthcare.
8. PAs are just “Fake it till you make it” doctor wannabees.
9. PAs do not have doctorate degrees and NPs do which make NPs higher level providers.
10. Patients think they are seeing a doctor and are being deceived.

These are the current beliefs and statements we are hearing throughout the RI state government and from many other sources in RI. If you don't like them, trust me, neither do we but we can't change these misconceptions without you.

Please Join or Renew your membership so we can protect your jobs and the PA Profession in RI.

The RIAPA is a professional organization that serves the PA community in RI. We provide resources and advocate for public policy issues affecting both the PA profession and the patients we serve.

01/03/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rhode Island Receives Rural Health Transformation Funding Following Workforce Development Commitments

Providence, R.I. (December 30, 2025) – The Rhode Island Academy of Physician Assistants (RIAPA) welcomed the announcement that Rhode Island has been awarded funding through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), a multi-year initiative directing up to $50 billion nationally to help states strengthen rural healthcare delivery. Rhode Island is expected to receive $156,169,931, supporting targeted reforms designed to expand access, improve outcomes, and strengthen the healthcare workforce.

In its application to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the state identified steps it plans to take to improve care delivery by joining the physician associate (PA) compact.

“This award reflects the federal government’s clear encouragement for states to modernize how care teams operate, and we are encouraged that Rhode Island is stepping forward with specific actions to strengthen PA practice laws as part of this effort,” said RIAPA President Chris Ferreira, PA-C.

CMS has emphasized that reforms enabling providers to practice at the top of their license and improving licensure portability are among the most effective tools states can use to expand rural access and strengthen workforce capacity. By naming these actions, Rhode Island positioned itself as a competitive applicant and demonstrated readiness to translate federal investment into meaningful change.

“PAs are one of the fastest-growing healthcare professions in the country, with more than 600 PAs practicing in Rhode Island and thousands more serving rural and underserved communities nationwide,” Ferreira added. “Ensuring PAs can fully utilize their education and training is essential to meeting rising patient demand, especially as rural communities continue to face persistent workforce shortages.”

RIAPA applauds state leaders for recognizing that modernizing PA practice laws is not only aligned with federal priorities, but also critical to ensuring patients can access timely, high-quality care close to home.

As the Rural Health Transformation Program moves into implementation, RIAPA looks forward to working with policymakers, agencies, and health systems to support these commitments and ensure the full healthcare workforce is positioned to meet the needs of communities across Rhode Island.

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About the Rhode Island Academy of Physician Assistants (RIAPA)

RIAPA’s mission is to empower physician assistants through advocacy and education; providing resources for PAs as well as the community in the pursuit of excellence for team-based medicine.

American Academy of Physician Associates

11/19/2025

🚨 Action Needed: Protect PA Student Loan Access 🚨

The U.S. Department of Education is proposing a rule that excludes PA programs from higher federal loan limits—making PA school unaffordable for many.

📅 If finalized, this takes effect July 2026.

✅ Sign AAPA’s Petition: https://www.votervoice.net/AAPAAdvocacy/home
✅ Share Your Story: https://fs1.formsite.com/aapa/mn2339etsq/index

Your voice matters! Help ensure future PAs can access the education they need to serve patients.

11/19/2025

We are losing ground on multiple fronts. We need the community to step up and support the profession.

11/16/2025

We are reaching out to share an important update that could significantly impact future PA students.

What is happening:

Last week, the U.S. Department of Education concluded its negotiated rulemaking session and agreed on a definition of “professional program” that excludes Physician Assistant programs from eligibility for higher federal student loan borrowing limits.

Why this matters:

PA school tuition often exceeds the proposed cap. Without access to sufficient federal loans, many aspiring PAs may not be able to complete their education—threatening the future of our profession and patient care.

If finalized as written, this rule will take effect July 2026, impacting students as early as the next academic cycle.

Here’s how you can help right now:

1) Sign and Share the AAPA’s Petition: Add your voice to urge the Department of Education to revise this proposal.

https://www.votervoice.net/AAPAAdvocacy/home

Share Your Story: AAPA is collecting personal experiences to show why student loans are a key point to bringing amazing students into the healthcare pipeline. Your story can make a difference.

https://fs1.formsite.com/aapa/mn2339etsq/index

Please share this message with colleagues, PA students, and aspiring PAs in your network. Together, we can ensure future PAs have the resources they need to serve their communities.