http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now.html The family physician's trusted source for news -- ANN is the official news publication of the American Academy of Family Physicians. en-us Copyright 2008 American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/practice-management/20080512delay-npi.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/practice-management/20080512delay-npi.html The AAFP has joined the AMA and 35 other national medical organizations in urging HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt to delay a fast-approaching deadline that would require Medicare providers to file Medicare claims using only their National Provider Identifier, or NPI, number. In a letter dated May 1, the medical organizations cited their growing concerns about the ability of physician practices, clearinghouses and commercial insurance payers to meet the May 23 deadline. ann@aafp.org Mon, 12 May 2008 11:35:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/opinion/20080508restructure-edit.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/opinion/20080508restructure-edit.html This month, the Academy emerged from an intensive, difficult and ultimately successful restructuring process designed to achieve a balanced AAFP operational budget for fiscal year 2008-2009, which begins June 1. ann@aafp.org Thu, 08 May 2008 14:50:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080509equalpay.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080509equalpay.html Delegates to the 2008 National Conference of Special Constituencies, or NCSC, urged the Academy to step up its advocacy efforts with government agencies, third-party payers and other private-sector stakeholders to ensure family physicians get their fair share of the reimbursement pie. That message came through adoption of resolutions on a range of payment issues. cborgmey@aafp.org Fri, 09 May 2008 13:00:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/practice-management/20080508tmed-mhiq.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/practice-management/20080508tmed-mhiq.html Medical practices working on becoming medical homes now can measure their progress, thanks to a free and comprehensive assessment tool recently made available by TransforMED, a practice redesign initiative affiliated with the AAFP. ann@aafp.org Thu, 08 May 2008 15:25:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080508jones-disp.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080508jones-disp.html The nation's health care system continues to perpetuate health care disparities by providing different levels of care for minority and nonminority patients, thus creating a two-tiered health care system that makes it difficult for minorities to access a high level of care. That's according to former AAFP President Warren A. Jones, M.D., of Ridgeland, Miss., who delivered the keynote address during the 2008 National Conference of Special Constituencies May 1 in Kansas City, Mo. jarvantes@aafp.org Thu, 08 May 2008 11:05:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080508elders-ncsc.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080508elders-ncsc.html When it comes to the U.S. health care system, "we have multiple organ failure," said former U.S. Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders, M.D., during a recent meeting in Kansas City, Mo. And in terms of how physicians have responded to America's growing health care crisis, Elders added, "we have not been great leaders." sporter@aafp.org Thu, 08 May 2008 14:00:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/clinical-care-research/20080507tobacco-guide.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/clinical-care-research/20080507tobacco-guide.html Evidence from the U.S. Public Health Service's 2008 update of the Clinical Practice Guideline: Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence indicates that both counseling and medication for tobacco dependence in adults are effective, especially when combined. Moreover, suggests the AAFP-endorsed guideline update, health systems, insurers and purchasers should help clinicians make such treatments available. ann@aafp.org Wed, 07 May 2008 16:10:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080506ncscleaders.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080506ncscleaders.html AAFP constituent chapter representatives who attended the Academy's National Conference of Special Constituencies, or NCSC, May 1-3 in Kansas City, Mo., elected colleagues to fill various leadership positions. ann@aafp.org Tue, 06 May 2008 15:55:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080506people-may.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080506people-may.html A number of AAFP members have received honors and awards and other career development opportunities in the past several months. ann@aafp.org Tue, 06 May 2008 16:00:00 CDT AAFP News Now http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080502aafpcandsslate.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/inside-aafp/20080502aafpcandsslate.html Fourteen candidates are seeking election or re-election to Academy offices and the AAFP Board of Directors. The AAFP Congress of Delegates will elect officers and new directors Sept. 17 in San Diego. ann@aafp.org Fri, 02 May 2008 14:30:00 CDT AAFP News Now