Lori Heim, M.D., Asks Members to Support Their Specialty

Health care reform is the Academy's most pressing issue right now, according to incoming AAFP President Lori Heim, M.D., of Vass, N.C., who vowed to help the Academy "tell the story of family medicine and how important (FPs) are as the underpinning of a successful health care system."

In an address to a ballroom packed with family physicians here on Wednesday, Heim vowed to spend each day of her presidency advancing family medicine. "The AAFP will increase family medicine's influence through our work with coalitions of businesses, policymakers, legislators and administrations at both the national and state levels," she said.

"(The Academy has) been carefully monitoring and commenting on the current legislation," she told audience members, adding that members have made excellent suggestions on how to improve bills under discussion in Congress.

"That the health care reform issue has become so partisan is most unfortunate, but we do not take sides with any party," said Heim. "We are taking a stand on what is best for our patients, our communities and our specialty."

The AAFP's new president acknowledged that tort reform must be addressed and included in overall health care reform efforts, and she hinted at a number of innovations that could "help alleviate the pressure that we feel from litigation concerns."

However, the Academy is choosing its political battles wisely, said Heim. "What we have not done is to issue ultimatums we do not yet have the political clout to win. It is more important that we remain involved and part of the discussion and solution."

She also outlined the progress on health care reform and family physician issues that the AAFP has made during the past year, and she cited the explosion of growth seen by the Academy's federal political action committee, FamMedPAC. This, in turn, has opened new doors for AAFP leaders to champion the Academy's priorities, said Heim.

"This year has been unprecedented for activity in Washington, D.C.," she said. "AAFP leaders met with all of the congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle and on both sides of the capitol." As a result, the Academy has been able to push primary care workforce issues and the call for payment reform into the national limelight.

Heim noted that primary care is slated to get a 5 percent to 10 percent pay increase in health care reform bills that have been proposed. "We know it's not enough … but it is a start," she said.

However, family physicians also have a responsibility to transform how they deliver primary care, said Heim. "We have data that shows the value of primary care as the foundation of a health care system," she noted, "but we also know that most of our practices have room for much improvement."

Heim urged FPs to take advantage of all available resources to help them redesign their practices into "highly functioning patient-centered medical homes."

Health information technology will continue to play a critical part in health care transformation efforts at both the local practice level and nationally, said Heim. "Our influence in this area has been recognized with several policy appointments at the national level, and we will continue to push this agenda." However, "the price must be affordable and meaningful for the work that we do," she added.

Heim urged members to do their part, and she left them with this call to action: "I ask that each of you do one thing for your organization and your specialty. It may be calling or e-mailing your elected officials, giving to the PAC, writing a letter to your local paper or other activities. But pledge to do at least one thing this next year to support family medicine."