http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/mediarss.html en-us Copyright 2009 American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/medicarephysicianpayment-reformact.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/medicarephysicianpayment-reformact.html “Elderly and disabled Americans have scored a victory with the House passage of the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act (HR 3961). Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/bluecrossbluesield-kansascity-transformed-medicalhomepilot.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/bluecrossbluesield-kansascity-transformed-medicalhomepilot.html Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City and TransforMED, a wholly owned subsidiary of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), today introduced a pilot program in which 13 primary care physician groups (family medicine, internal medicine and pediatrics) in the Kansas City area will adopt a new model of health care known as the patient-centered medical home. TransforMED’s practice enhancement facilitators will work directly with doctors and their staff as they implement new technologies and processes to improve patient access and care outcomes, increase patient and physician satisfaction, and reduce errors to lower health care costs. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City will provide financial sponsorship for the two-year pilot program. Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/hr-3962.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/hr-3962.html The House passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962) is an important step toward needed change in the health care system. Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/premanent-fix-sgr.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/premanent-fix-sgr.html Publication of the final 2010 Medicare physician fee schedule and regulations demonstrates the continued recognition that a high quality, efficient health care system must rest on a foundation of primary medical care. “The 2010 fee schedule provides important payment changes through practice expense adjustments, eliminated consultation codes and more-accurately valued costs of high-tech medical technology. These policies will improve payment for primary care physicians and help ensure that all Americans have access to a personal physician who can ensure they get the right care at the right time in the right place. Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/regina-benjamin-confirmation.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/regina-benjamin-confirmation.html “Family physicians applaud the Senate’s confirmation of Regina Benjamin, MD., as U.S. surgeon general. “All Americans will benefit from Dr. Benjamin’s medical expertise, clinical experience and advocacy for all patients. She is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to health care, regardless of economic status, despite systemic challenges that prevent patients from getting needed care, and even in the face of devastating natural disaster such as hurricanes George and Katrina. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/olympic-torchbearer.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/olympic-torchbearer.html LEAWOOD, Kan. -- The American Academy of Family Physicians today announced that AAFP member Timothy Alford, M.D., a family physician in Kosciusko, Miss., has been selected by Coca-Cola as an Olympic Torchbearer for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games to be held in Vancouver, British Columbia, February 12–28, 2010. Alford has been a family physician for more than 25 years in rural Mississippi. During this time and against great odds, he has worked to strengthen public education and wellness. Residing in a state that has the highest obesity rate in the United States, many of Alford's patients struggle with the chronic medical problems associated with obesity. Thu, 29 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT AAFP News Releases and Statements http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/failure-of-s-1776.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/failure-of-s-1776.html “The American Academy of Family Physicians and its more than 94,600 members are extremely disappointed that the Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009 (S. 1776) failed to garner the 60 votes required to send this legislation to a full U.S. Senate vote. “We applaud the efforts of Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) who, as principal sponsor of S. 1776, worked to put an end to the annual congressional scramble to prevent severe cuts in payment to doctors who care for America’s elderly and disabled patients. Moreover, we commend the senators who joined Sen. Stabenow in voting to allow S. 1776 to proceed to a full Senate vote. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT AAFP News Releases and Statements http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/metlife-foundation-obesity.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/metlife-foundation-obesity.html The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the AAFP Foundation announce that they have been awarded a $150,000 grant from MetLife Foundation, designed to counter the national epidemic of childhood obesity by empowering family physicians with new ways to promote physical activity, nutrition and emotional well-being. The partnership will produce educational materials for children, including books and publications that will address physical activity, nutrition, and emotional well-being. The materials are designed to encourage patients to talk with their family physicians about fitness and to work together to develop a plan to enable sustained healthy life style choices among family members. The endeavor will be administered by Americans In Motion (AIM), an AAFP initiative designed to improve the health of all Americans through multifaceted fitness programs. This year’s grant builds upon an initiative that was successfully launched in 2008 by MetLife Foundation and the AAFP, which has to date included the production of a DVD and children’s book discussing fitness for the family, with a special emphasis on ways to maintain fitness for children. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT AAFP News Releases and Statements http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/h1n1-vaccine-pregnant-patients.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/h1n1-vaccine-pregnant-patients.html To help stress the urgent message that pregnant women must get vaccinated against both seasonal influenza and 2009 H1N1 to protect themselves and their unborn baby, the American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) joined forces today. In a group letter sent to health care professionals nationwide, leaders from the four groups emphasized the increased number of deaths among pregnant women from influenza and provided helpful information for medical professionals. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT AAFP News Releases and Statements http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/medicare-physician-fairness-act.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/newsreleases-statements-2009/medicare-physician-fairness-act.html Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009 (S. 1776). Tue, 20 Oct 2009 00:00:00 CDT AAFP News Releases and Statements