October 2000 • Post-Assembly Edition • Dallas
Universal coverage
AAFP-wide debate beginsBY JANE STOEVER
The Academy is edging toward a blueprint for universal coverage. The Congress of Delegates adopted the report of the Task Force on Universal Coverage and referred to the AAFP Board a related resolution during the delegates' meeting Sept. 18-20 in Dallas.
The materials jump-start an Academy-wide discussion on reforming the health care system and providing basic health services to everyone.
Chapters and members will share their views on the materials with the Board of Directors by spring 2001, and the Board will send recommendations for action to the 2001 Congress.
"Health care reform is a must," (then) Board Chair Lanny Copeland, M.D., of Albany, Ga., the task force chair, told the delegates. "We, as the best advocates for our patients, need to be leading the way."
During the reference committee hearing, the report reaped criticism and praise. The document includes general guidelines (originally called principles) and specific elements for the universal coverage plan (see story, page 7).
"The principles don't use words suggesting single payer, but the plan does seem to be a national health system," said Stephen Benold, M.D., of Georgetown, Texas, a member of the Commission on Legislation and Governmental Affairs, speaking for himself.
"If it quacks, if it waddles, if it swims on top of the water, you can call it an eagle, but it's a duck," Benold said. No conservative think tanks were listed in the report's bibliography, he noted.
Task force member and alternate delegate Tanya Jones, M.D., of Atlanta said the task force had broad representation, from a managed care executive to a rural FP in solo practice, and included conservatives.
The Colorado AFP submitted a streamlined resolution with core values for health care reform, including community orientation and continuity of care. The reference committee recommended adopting the resolution instead of the task force report. That led to discussion of the merits of the resolution versus the report.
"The principles in the report are quite detailed; the principles in the resolution don't address specific issues," delegate Richard Wopat, M.D., of Lebanon, Ore., said. "We should have the national discussion among the chapters about the specifics."
"I don't think we should achieve unity by making things more simple and more vague," said delegate Judy Chamberlain, M.D., of Brunswick, Maine.
Referring to the report, Copeland said, "What we've come out with is not a perfect document. We want input."
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Copyright © 2000 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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