Do you really need 2000 patient contact hours in order to be seen as a good applicant to get into a PA program?

I know there are other things that admissions would obviously look at, but is getting at least 2000 hours really true? And if so what would be considered patient contact hours, I understand if you are a CNA or EMT, these would obviously count, but are there other ways? Perhaps, ways that wouldn't cost money for training beforehand?