09/29/2026
Five Ways (Plus a Bonus!) OAPA Is Advocating for You This Fall
September in an election year means Ohio lawmakers are mostly away from the Statehouse, out in their districts working to earn votes for themselves and their party colleagues.
But just because things are quiet in Columbus doesn't mean OAPA's advocacy has slowed down.
Here are five ways we're continuing to work for you and the Ohio PA profession.
1. Holding a Legislative Town Hall
On September 10, 2026, we hosted a Legislative Town Hall to review OAPA's legislative progress and upcoming advocacy actions. Attendees heard about the relationships OAPA has been building, the status of our three active bills, and a preview of the legislative calendar.
If you couldn't make it, here's a taste of what you missed.
2. Publishing the HB 963 Spotlight Series
Ohio House Bill 963, our PA practice modernization bill, would align state law with modern PA education and practice, benefiting Ohio patients and healthcare teams alike.
We've published the first four articles in a series spotlighting each of the 14 actions within HB 963. These short, readable profiles make the case for why each provision matters, and they feature Ohio PAs and other supporters who want to see legislative barriers removed.
Read them in the Latest News section of the website and watch for them on OAPA social media. Sharing these resources with your friends, hospital PA committees, and colleagues will help educate everyone on what PA practice advancement means, and why it matters.
3. Developing Legislator Outreach Templates
We've talked a lot over the past year about PAs reaching out to their state senator and representative, and we know that can feel intimidating. Whether it's your first outreach or your fifth, OAPA is here to help.
Our new outreach templates include one for introducing yourself to your legislators for the first time, and a more detailed one with PA bill talking points for legislators you already know or have engaged with before.
4. Commenting on Rules and Regulations
In addition to pursuing legislation for PA practice modernization and PA title change, OAPA routinely reviews rules proposed or under consideration by state agencies.
In just the past few months, we've commented on the PA Quality Assurance System rule (4730-1-05) with the State Medical Board, the Adult Crisis Service rules (5122-29-32) with the Ohio Department of Behavioral Health, and the Lead Screening and Assessment rule (3701-30-01) with the Ohio Department of Health, among others.
Rest assured that we are always watching for opportunities to advance PA practice and remove barriers, wherever they arise.
5. Planning for Advocacy Day 2027
If you haven't already, grab your calendar and mark April 13, 2027. We'll be in Columbus for the next Ohio PA Advocacy Day, a fun, energizing event that raises awareness of the PA profession with Ohio lawmakers and builds community and camaraderie among Ohio PAs and PA students.
Request April 13 off now, block your schedule, and then watch for more details in the coming months.
Bonus: Representing at the AAPA Leadership and Advocacy Summit
OAPA's advocacy generally focuses on the state level, where most of the practice laws affecting your daily work originate, but we also support federal advocacy to advance the PA profession nationwide.
OAPA President Madeline Meyers, PA-C, DMSc, FAPACVS, attended this year's Summit along with Ohio PAs JP Thompson, MSc, RN, PA-C, DFAAPA, and Mumbi Ngugi, PA-C, CPAAPA, and PA student Jasmine Rockhold, PA-S.
These advocates met with staff from Senator Husted's and Senator Moreno's offices, as well as House staff from their home districts, to advance efforts to protect PA student loans and to update the federal workers' compensation program to include PAs, among other priorities.
No matter what's in the political headlines, OAPA is steadily working behind the scenes on the issues that impact your ability to practice.
Want to help? Take one small step this month to increase your advocacy know-how. Find ideas here.
Matthew Freado, MBA, PA-C, is the Government Affairs Committee Chair of the Ohio Association of Physician Assistants and also serves as Region 4 Director.
The Government Affairs Committee supports the profession through advancing PA legislative priorities and removing barriers to practice. Please consider providing financial support to advance PA advocacy via the OAPA Legislative Fund or OAPA Political Action Committee.
Keep up with the latest on our advocacy page, or contact us at oapa@ohiopa.com.