Statement attributable to:
Mary E. Frank, M.D., FAAFP
President
American Academy of Family Physicians
AAFP Statement: Per Family Physicians: Medicare Value Purchasing Act Misses the Mark
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, July 01, 2005
Contact:
Leslie Champlin
American Academy of Family Physicians
(800) 274-2237, Ext. 5224
lchampli@aafp.org
“The American Academy of Family Physicians is gravely disappointed by the fact that the Medicare Value Purchasing Act, which Senators Grassley (R-IA) and Baucus (D-MT) introduced today, attempts to improve the payment system to physicians without attempting to stem the declining Medicare reimbursement rate. These new requirements on physicians will mean they face lower payments and additional costs. This is not a formula for improving health care quality.
“In a nutshell: Doctors continue to face declining reimbursements for Medicare patients. The bill will probably increase doctors’ costs in order to meet and report specific care standards, but it doesn’t help them obtain the technology to do so. If doctors don’t have the technology to participate in the reporting system, their reimbursement will be cut even further, which will hinder their ability to ever be able to afford the technology. Sound like a vicious cycle? It is.
“And the ultimate outcome? Many family physicians may be forced to close their doors to those who need health care the most: the elderly.
“The American Academy of Family Physicians strongly supports reimbursing physicians based on the quality of care they provide their patients. We urge the Senate Finance Committee to consider how they can help physicians obtain the technology to comply with performance-based reimbursement systems while not penalizing the segment of our society who need our care the most.”
“In a nutshell: Doctors continue to face declining reimbursements for Medicare patients. The bill will probably increase doctors’ costs in order to meet and report specific care standards, but it doesn’t help them obtain the technology to do so. If doctors don’t have the technology to participate in the reporting system, their reimbursement will be cut even further, which will hinder their ability to ever be able to afford the technology. Sound like a vicious cycle? It is.
“And the ultimate outcome? Many family physicians may be forced to close their doors to those who need health care the most: the elderly.
“The American Academy of Family Physicians strongly supports reimbursing physicians based on the quality of care they provide their patients. We urge the Senate Finance Committee to consider how they can help physicians obtain the technology to comply with performance-based reimbursement systems while not penalizing the segment of our society who need our care the most.”
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Note to journalists: To interview Dr. Frank, please contact Leslie Champlin at (800) 274-2237, Ext. 5224, or by e-mail at lchampli@aafp.org.
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 110,600 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.
Approximately one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. That is 240 million office visits each year — nearly 87 million more than the next largest medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.
To learn more about the specialty of family medicine, the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, and for downloadable multi-media highlighting family medicine, visit www.aafp.org/media. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s award-winning consumer website, www.FamilyDoctor.org.
