FP Report -- July 1999
Medical groups seek universal coverage
The Academy took the lead in an effort to promote universal health care coverage in June.
Several medical groups came to consensus on principles to guide the effort to win coverage for all Americans.
"The current health care system is not reaching everyone," said AAFP President Lanny Copeland, M.D., of Albany, Ga.
"Why the urgency? Over the past decade, we have had a number of interesting and sometimes ferocious debates in Washington about health care, patient rights, Medicare and many other health issues. During that time, more than 11 million people have been added to the pool of uninsured," said Copeland. "We're not moving in the right direction. It's time we all made a commitment to do so."
The consensus statement, "All Americans Must Have Health Insurance," was endorsed by the AAFP, AMA, and groups representing pediatricians, emergency physicians, OB-Gyns, internists and surgeons.
"We challenge the 106th Congress and declared 2000 presidential candidates to make the critical issues of health insurance coverage and access a top priority," says the statement. It embraces these concepts:
- All Americans must have health care coverage.
- Health care coverage should contain at least a benefits package that provides high-quality care.
- Medical necessity determinations made under the benefits package should reflect generally accepted standards of medical practice, supported by outcomes-based evidence, where available. These standards will continue to evolve.
"We support pluralism of health care delivery systems and financing mechanisms in achieving coverage for and access to health care services," says the statement.
The Academy organized a multispecialty news conference June 14 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., to announce the statement. Attending the conference were representatives from Reuters, The New York Times and Family Practice News.
FP Report is published by the AAFP News Department. Copyright © 1999 by American Academy of Family Physicians.
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