Susanna Storeng, DMSc, PA-C, a family and pediatric physician assistant serving mid-Michigan as part of McLaren Central Michigan, recently returned from Washington DC, during which she advocated for increasing access for her patients to get the timely care they need.
An invited attendee of the Michigan Academy of Physician Associates at the American Academy of Physician Associates Leadership and Advocacy Summit, Storeng added her support behind House Resolution 618/S 131 and House Resolution 704/S 260.
“Neither of these bills change the scope of treatment or practice,” Storeng said. “The passage of these bills, though, would increase patients’ access to care, allowing them to be treated in a timelier manner — especially those living in rural and underserved areas — providing them greater chances for a favorable outcome in their treatment.”
Storeng and fellow PA leaders met and detailed the benefits of these bills to Michigan congress men and women of both parties and their staffs: Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Sen. Gary Peters, Rep. John Moolenaar, and Rep. Bill Huizenga.
The passage of “Improving Access to Worker’s Compensation for Injured Federal Workers Act,” HR 618/S 131 would allow physician assistants and nurse practitioners to treat injured federal workers, decreasing the time these patients would have to wait for treatment as they are currently required to be treated by physicians only. HR 618 was overwhelmingly approved in June 2022 with bipartisan support, raising hopes that S 131 will receive Senate approval.
HR 704/S 260, “Promoting Access to Diabetic Shoes Act,” would similarly authorize NPs and PAs to certify diabetic Medicare patients’ need for diabetic shoes — shoes that can protect against the breakdown of the foot resulting from diabetes and potentially save the leg. The bill has been debated for years, though Storeng and her group received positive feedback from their meetings with legislators.
Storeng joined McLaren Central Michigan in the spring of 2023, bringing decades of experience treating patients in rural and underserved communities, seeing firsthand the benefits these bills can have to this patient population.
A family and pediatric provider, Storeng practices at McLaren Central Pediatrics and McLaren Central Health Park, both in Mount Pleasant.
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