Letter to Sec. of HHS Tommy Thompson in support of funding for Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs).

The Honorable Tommy Thompson
Secretary of Health and Human Services
200 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, DC 20201

Dear Secretary Thompson:

I am writing on behalf of the 93,700 members of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) in support of the funding request for the Quality Improvement Organizations (QIOs) and the 8th Scope of Work (SOW) submitted by Mark McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., Administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

The AAFP is supportive of the quality improvement goals and work of the QIOs. During the 7th SOW, the AAFP encouraged family physicians and state chapters of the Academy to participate in the quality improvement projects of the local QIOs because we share the goal of quality improvement. At the same time, the AAFP has recognized the benefit of utilizing health information technology, quality improvement and office redesign for our members. The AAFP has made promoting these concepts a priority through the Center for Health Information Technology (CHIT). The CHIT has facilitated the acquisition and utilization of health information technology in a manner consistent with the 8th Scope of Work’s tasks for the physician office setting. The AAFP anticipates working closely with the local QIOs in implementing the tasks of the 8th Scope of Work.

The AAFP agrees with the emphasis on IT and office redesign for the next SOW, and we recognize that this new area represents a significant expansion of QIO contract work. To this end, we support the full apportionment request made by CMS Administrator Dr. Mark McClellan.

Sincerely,


Michael O. Fleming, M.D., FAAFP
Chair