The future of physical therapy may be on the horizon, but that doesn’t mean it won’t take a little longer.

The National Association of Physician Assistants (NASPA) is calling on lawmakers to give the profession an extra $4 million for 2019 and 2020, which would help increase the number of physician assistants and improve their health care access.NASPA has proposed legislation that would provide more financial support for the profession through 2019, and would allow NASPA to raise its minimum pay and salary from $40,000 to $50,000 per year, with the added benefit of increased physician assistants’ access to health insurance.

“Physicians are facing a crisis of uncompensated care,” said NASPA President Susan R. Sholz.

“It’s an important opportunity for us to improve the health of the profession, and we need to increase our ability to provide care to our patients.”NASPA recently announced it would increase its physician assistant funding from $2.4 million to $4.3 million, to be used for more education and to fund programs to increase physician assistants health care and training.

“The National Assn.

of Physicians recently passed a resolution asking the Congress to provide $4 billion for 2019-2020 to support the health care needs of physician assistant physicians and nurse practitioners,” said Sholwaz.

“This will allow them to better manage their workloads and provide them with the opportunity to spend more time with their patients and with their families.”NASSA is calling for Congress to include this additional funding in a bill that will also increase the salary of physician aids and other physical therapists.

Currently, physicians can make an additional $5,500 for each month they are paid at least 40 hours per week.

NASPA is proposing to increase this to $8,500 per month for each physician assistant.

NASSA has also proposed to increase the minimum salary of physical therapists to $25,000 annually.

“I believe that the increased funding for the Physiotherapist Association, as well as for the Association of the Physician Assistant, will enable them to expand their services to more patients and improve patient outcomes, including the reduction of emergency room visits,” said Dr. Thomas J. Koss, NASPA president.

“Physiotherapists have proven to be essential to the health and well-being of our nation’s communities.

NASAA is grateful to NASPA for taking the lead on this important legislation.”

The NASPA resolution was passed in January.

If approved, the legislation will then be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.