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AAFP Statement: Administration’s 2009 Budget Could Worsen Flaws in Health Care System

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 05, 2008

Statement Attributable to:
James King, M.D.
President
American Academy of Family Physician

"The American Academy of Family Physicians is deeply disappointed in President Bush’s 2009 federal budget. It proposes draconian cuts in funding for health services and physician training, which will do nothing to solve the nation’s health care crisis. In fact, these cuts could worsen the already serious flaws in our system."

"President Bush’s budget would:

Cut $17 billion from federal Medicaid funding.
Eliminate $49 million to help states provide health insurance to medically uninsurable people with pre-existing illnesses or injuries.
Eliminate Title VII health professions training funds.
Eliminate funding for the Preventive Health Block Grants.
Slash Health Resources and Services Administration spending by $1 billion. including an 87 percent, or $112 million cut for grants for rural health care programs.
Reduce funds for mental health and substance drug abuse programs by $198 million."

"The proposed, severe cuts in Medicaid and the elimination of support for state programs to cover the medically uninsurable come at a time of economic slowdown, when Americans are losing their health insurance due to lay-offs and business cost-cutting. The administration released the proposal only one week after the Congressional Budget Office Director Peter Orszag said temporarily increasing the federal medical assistance percentage for Medicaid likely would help stimulate the economy."

"President Bush’s cuts in support for health professions training comes at a time when the nation faces a deepening shortage of family physicians, the very health professionals whom studies have proven are key to dramatically improving overall health outcomes by reducing costs, preventing illness, ending fragmentation of care, avoiding duplication of services, and averting unnecessary hospitalizations. Regardless of that physician shortage, the President would increase construction of community health centers, despite their current inability to recruit the family physicians needed to provide services within those new structures."

"Of equal concern, the budget would eliminate funding for rural health and preventive programs at a time when Americans living in 2,157 small and rural communities are identified as Health Professional Shortage Areas, and when the number of Americans with preventable, chronic illnesses is skyrocketing."

"The budget would slash mental health and substance abuse program funding at a time when our mental health resources are grappling with thousands of returning soldiers who are struggling with post traumatic stress disorder in their home communities."

"Money not spent does not necessarily equal savings. In the case of health care, such penury will come at a cost too high to consider on any level."

"Refusing to pay for health care will not prevent illness or heal the sick; it will not eliminate the fragmentation, duplication and unnecessary hospitalizations that drive up our costs. Refusing to support the programs that help Americans maintain their good health today and that teach the physicians of tomorrow will not increase access to the primary care that is the keystone to a cost-efficient, effective and compassionate health care system."

"The AAFP calls on Congress to recognize that health care is not just about dollar signs. It’s about Americans’ health and theprofessionals who care for them."

"We call on Congress to preserve access to health care for all Americans, rich and poor, whether they live in rural areas, have pre-existing conditions that preclude private market coverage, or work for companies that respond to the economic slowdown by dropping health benefits or trimming their workforce."

"We urge Congress to preserve preventive care programs that will help patients avoid conditions that progress to serious illness and far more costly medical interventions and hospital care. Equally important, the AAFP asks that Congress support legislation that helps ensure access to services for Americans with mental health conditions."

"The AAFP urges Congress to invest in America’s future by supporting the vital primary physician training programs. By doing so, Congress can ensure an adequate supply of family physicians who ultimately can save money while they provide comprehensive, coordinated care in a medical home that improves access to care and improves health for all."

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Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents more than 94,600 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the only medical society devoted solely to primary care.

Nearly one in four of all office visits are made to family physicians. That is 208 million office visits each year - nearly 83 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.

In the increasingly fragmented world of health care where many medical specialties limit their practice to a particular organ, disease, age or sex, family physicians are dedicated to treating the whole person across the full spectrum of ages. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care.

To learn more about the American Academy of Family Physicians and about the specialty of family medicine, please visit aafp.org.

For more information about the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care and downloadable multi-media on family medicine and health care, visit the AAFP Media Center.

For more information about health care, health conditions, and wellness, please visit familydoctor.org.