http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/mediarss.html en-us Copyright 2011 American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/pregnancy-influenza-vaccine.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/pregnancy-influenza-vaccine.html LEAWOOD, Kan. — The nation’s leading health care organizations joined forces today in a common message stressing the importance of pregnant women being vaccinated against seasonal influenza to protect themselves and their unborn babies. In a group letter sent to health care professionals nationwide, leaders from the groups emphasized the increased number of deaths among pregnant women from influenza and provided helpful information for medical professionals. The letter was signed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Nurse-Midwives, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Medical Association, the American Nurses Association, the American Pharmacists Association, the Association for Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses, the March of Dimes, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, the National Influenza Vaccine Summit, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fri, 09 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements - RSS Feed http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/marilyn-tavenner-cms-administrator.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/marilyn-tavenner-cms-administrator.html During this time of change, America’s health care system needs a steady, respected and pragmatic leader at the helm of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Marilyn Tavenner’s nomination as CMS director fits the bill. Tavenner brings experience in both the private and public health care sectors, in direct patient care and administration of that care, and in health care policy-making that undergirds patient care. Throughout her career, she has worked to ensure that patients have access to high quality care and that health professionals are paid appropriately. She understands the flaws in our current health care system and has helped frame meaningful solutions. Fri, 02 Dec 2011 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements - RSS Feed http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/call-to-action-labor-and-delivery.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/call-to-action-labor-and-delivery.html The nation’s leading health care organizations in the areas of obstetrics-gynecology, family medicine, and pediatrics issued an unprecedented call to action today for the nation’s health care providers and administrators. Wed, 30 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements - RSS Feed http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/supercommittee-medicare.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/supercommittee-medicare.html The joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction has dropped the ball by failing to agree on federal budget cuts demanded by the Budget Reduction Act of 2011. “In doing so, they have also condemned millions of elderly and disabled Americans to continued health insecurity. Their inaction allows the flawed sustainable growth rate (SGR) that d Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements - RSS Feed http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/familydoctor.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/familydoctor.html LEAWOOD, Kan. — The American Academy of Family Physicians recently launched its redesigned patient education website, FamilyDoctor.org. The award-winning site aims to improve health literacy and patient engagement through a new set of tools and features. The site’s improved layout and navigation make it easier for users to find the information they are looking for — even when using a mobile device. FamilyDoctor.org receives 5 million visits a month, from more than 150,000 unique visitors each day. Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements - RSS Feed http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/schwartz-bill.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/schwartz-bill.html The American Academy of Family Physicians greatly appreciates the leadership of Rep. Allyson Schwartz in finding a way to address the unsustainable and inequitable formula that determines how physicians are paid by Medicare. “The AAFP congratulates Rep. Schwartz for her legislative proposal that would create a ten-year path to stability in payments and would help the complex health care delivery system better recognize the value of primary care. Only by stabilizing the Medicare physician payment system can we ensure that elderly and disabled patients will have access to the care they need, when they need it. “Rep. Schwartz's proposal is a strong step forward to health care that will be better coordinated and more patient-centered. We urge Congress to pass this legislation that would prevent the looming 27-percent reduction in physician payments by Medicare.” Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements - RSS Feed http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/senate-help-committee-.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/senate-help-committee-.html Depending only on a fee-for-service system to pay for health care undermines Congressional efforts to improve the quality of care and constrain the cost of that care. In fact, such a system discourages the very primary care services on which transformation of the U.S. health care system depends. Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CST AAFP News Releases and Statements - RSS Feed http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/2012-medicare-physician-fee-schedule.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/2012-medicare-physician-fee-schedule.html “Medicare beneficiaries and the physicians who treat them will feel the brunt of the final 2012 Medicare physician fee schedule released yesterday. Since Congress has not yet addressed the physician payment cuts that are scheduled to take effect January 1, 2012, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is forced to slash Medicare payment for physician services by 27.4 percent. Such a drastic cut poses a serious threat to the financial viability of physician practices. “Hardest hit will be primary care physicians, who are the foundation of a high quality, cost-effective health delivery system. Primary care physicians are essential to the comprehensive and coordinated care that elderly patients with multiple chronic illnesses need. In fact, Medicare patients make up an average of one-fourth of all family physician patients. For some family physicians, Medicare patients comprise as much as 80 percent of the practice’s patients. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 CDT AAFP News Releases and Statements - RSS Feed http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/aafp-targets-medicare-payment-medical-education-funding-in-campaign.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/aafp-targets-medicare-payment-medical-education-funding-in-campaign.html LEAWOOD, Kan. — “Stand up and fight.” That’s the message family physicians and patient advocates are getting in a month-long video campaign launched by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Focused on the long-standing flaws in the Medicare physician payment system, the challenges to graduate medical education funding and budget threats to primary care physician training, the campaign comprises three videos targeted to AAFP members, a fourth video targeted to Congress, a letter-writing campaign and social media updates. Fri, 28 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT AAFP News Releases and Statements - RSS Feed http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/aco-final-rule.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/media/releases/2011newsreleases-statements/aco-final-rule.html “The Medicare Accountable Care Organization final rule recently released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services represents a substantial step toward mending America’s broken health care system. The final rule sets the stage for transforming the way patients receive care and promises to end the fragmentation, duplication and miscommunication that contribute to poor care and high costs. Fri, 21 Oct 2011 00:00:00 CDT AAFP News Releases and Statements - RSS Feed