Summary: Obamacare is back in the news. This time the government will delay the requirement of businesses with 50-99 employees to comply with the Affordable Care Act until January 1, 2016. Who cares? Well we all should. This is a big deal. This affects about 8 million Americans and is another reason to ask what the heck is going on with the implementation of this law. Why does the government keep delaying the compliance of businesses with the Affordable Care Act? Well, it is likely because the law will place a financial burden on these businesses that will result in suppression of growth of our economy which is already struggling. Also, there is the mid-term elections in November of 2014 that will absolutely be affected by the healthcare law. Check out this article in the Wall Street Journal to learn more about this delay for businesses of 50-99 employees: Health-Law Mandate Put Off Again Michael Quirk is a Physician Assistant (PA) who currently practices emergency medicine in Phoenix, Arizona. He has great insight into the history and role of a PA as his father was one of the first PAs in the country. The role of a PA is evolving in our current healthcare environment. They are taking on more responsibility for patient care and filling the gaps (especially in primary care) where we do not have enough of a physician workforce. The PA education is definitely different from a physician, but many of the PA responsibilities are equal to a physician. There are laws that regulate what a PA can and cannot do while practicing medicine, but those lines are often blurred. What role will a PA have in the future? Well, I don't know for sure, but it will be an important role that is developing everyday across our nation. Physician Assistant is a great career and many people are choosing PA school over medical school. I will continue to explore the world of a PA, so stay tuned for future episodes.
