Thirty-four members of Congress have asked for more information about issues of importance to family medicine. The request came in response to Capitol Hill visits from AAFP members April 21, during the Family Medicine Congressional Conference in Washington.
Lawmakers Seek More Information on Family Medicine's Legislative Positions
By News Staff
5/9/2005
Among the legislators' requests: the AAFP's pay-for-performance statement, studies from the Robert Graham Center in Washington on medical liability caps and the physician workforce, and background on the implications of CMS' policy on volunteer preceptors in residency training programs. In addition, the lawmakers sought information on research showing that a greater number of primary care physicians results in lower mortality rates and health costs in U.S. counties, while a greater number of subspecialty practitioners does not effectively lower mortality rates and may increase costs.
Capitol Hill's response "demonstrates the importance of grass-roots members educating their congressional delegation," said Jerome Connolly, senior government relations representative in the AAFP Government Relations Division. "It indicates a responsiveness of the delegation to input from constituents."
Senators and representatives "really rely on information about how legislation or policy affects their constituents," Connolly added.
Some 90 AAFP members met with their senators' and representatives' legislative aides during the conference. At those meetings, they presented family medicine's positions on Medicaid funding; federal funding for residency training; medical liability insurance reform; Medicare reimbursement for physicians; and reauthorization of Section 747, which addresses primary care physician training in Title VII in the Public Health Service Act.
The annual conference opens doors to congressional offices; follow-up from Academy members keeps family medicine's positions at the forefront as lawmakers vote on issues of importance to the specialty, according to Connolly.
"The more AAFP members interact with members of Congress, the louder our voices and the more effective our messages," he said.
Members can visit "Federal Advocacy" to find links to Academy positions, correspondence with legislative and regulatory leaders, congressional testimony, and other background information on family medicine issues. "Using Speak Out" provides directions for contacting federal legislators.
Capitol Hill's response "demonstrates the importance of grass-roots members educating their congressional delegation," said Jerome Connolly, senior government relations representative in the AAFP Government Relations Division. "It indicates a responsiveness of the delegation to input from constituents."
Senators and representatives "really rely on information about how legislation or policy affects their constituents," Connolly added.
Some 90 AAFP members met with their senators' and representatives' legislative aides during the conference. At those meetings, they presented family medicine's positions on Medicaid funding; federal funding for residency training; medical liability insurance reform; Medicare reimbursement for physicians; and reauthorization of Section 747, which addresses primary care physician training in Title VII in the Public Health Service Act.
The annual conference opens doors to congressional offices; follow-up from Academy members keeps family medicine's positions at the forefront as lawmakers vote on issues of importance to the specialty, according to Connolly.
"The more AAFP members interact with members of Congress, the louder our voices and the more effective our messages," he said.
Members can visit "Federal Advocacy" to find links to Academy positions, correspondence with legislative and regulatory leaders, congressional testimony, and other background information on family medicine issues. "Using Speak Out" provides directions for contacting federal legislators.
