 "Family physicians are trained to provide most of the care most of the people need over a continuing period of time," says Warren Jones, M.D. |
The Academy sought continued federal funding of family physicians' training May 8 on Capitol Hill. AAFP Board Chair Warren Jones, M.D., of Ridgeland, Miss., asked for Congress' support for the Public Health Service Act, Title VII, Section 747, including $96 million for family medicine training in 2004.
 Rep. Don Sherwood reinforces the AAFP's testimony regarding Title VII funding. |
Jones testified before a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. He said Title VII funding "is important to all of the members of Congress and your committee because family medicine is the only specialty that has a practicing physician in every district in the nation."
Illustrating the continued need for Title VII funding, Jones said Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, uses the funds to send physicians to rural locations.
Jones' testimony sparked a positive response. Rep. Don Sherwood, R-Pa., replied: "I think we have lost sight of something, and that is that every person needs a family physician. (Patients) go from one specialist to another, and sometimes the whole picture is not looked at."
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