http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine.html en-us Copyright 2009 American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091120sgrhousebill.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091120sgrhousebill.html The AAFP has hailed House passage of a bill that would provide a permanent fix for the sustainable growth rate, or SGR formula, as a victory for both Medicare patients and their physicians. jarvantes@aafp.org Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:15:00 CST Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091113action-sgr-fix.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091113action-sgr-fix.html The AAFP is rallying support for a House bill that would provide a permanent fix for the sustainable growth rate, or SGR, formula and, thus, avert a 21.2 percent reduction in the Medicare physician payment rate scheduled to take place Jan. 1. jarvantes@aafp.org Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:00:00 CST Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091110heim-cap-hill.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091110heim-cap-hill.html AAFP President Lori Heim, M.D., of Vass, N.C., returned to Capitol Hill on Nov. 5, meeting with lawmakers and their staff members for the second time in less than two weeks to re-emphasize the importance of primary care and family medicine in any health care reform bill passed by Congress. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:40:00 CST Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091104reform-letter.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091104reform-letter.html In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., the AAFP has expressed its support for two health care reform bills pending in the House, but the Academy also noted that there are improvements that could be made in the bills to support tort reform and improve payment for primary care physicians. jarvantes@aafp.org Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:30:00 CST Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091103medpac.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091103medpac.html The process used to determine the relative value of physician services for the Medicare program is deeply flawed and driven by the interests of subspecialty societies, according to some members of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, or MedPAC, which met last month in Washington, D.C. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:25:00 CST Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091028cap-hill-visits.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091028cap-hill-visits.html As Congress moves closer to passing a comprehensive health care reform bill, the AAFP continues to make a strong case for primary care and family medicine on Capitol Hill, telling lawmakers that health care reform will not succeed without a robust primary care system. jarvantes@aafp.org Wed, 28 Oct 2009 16:35:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091021sgr-defeat.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091021sgr-defeat.html In another blow to payment measures for physicians, Senate leaders were unable to bring a bill to the Senate floor that would have permanently fixed the sustainable growth rate, or SGR, formula, which is used to determine Medicare's physician payment rates. Without a fix to the formula, physicians in the Medicare program face a 21 percent pay cut in January. jarvantes@aafp.org Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:15:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091015sgr-fix-legislation.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091015sgr-fix-legislation.html A movement to permanently fix Medicare's physician fee schedule began working its way through the U.S. Senate Wednesday when Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., introduced the Medicare Physician Fairness Act of 2009, or S. 1776. Now, the AAFP is using its Speak Out alert system to ask members to contact their legislators to support the bill. ann@aafp.org Thu, 15 Oct 2009 13:35:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091013ruralphysicianslegs.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091013ruralphysicianslegs.html The AAFP is supporting a Senate bill that would give medical schools the resources to establish or expand rural physician training programs. The Rural Physician Pipeline Act of 2009 would award grants to medical schools for the establishment or support of existing programs that provide specialized training to students with an interest in serving rural communities. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:35:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091006obama-whthse-mtng.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20091006obama-whthse-mtng.html During a gathering of white-coated physicians yesterday in the White House Rose Garden, President Obama emphasized that physicians are on the front lines in the battle for health care reform. And, during a short private meeting in the Oval Office before the larger event, he urged AAFP leaders to push for enactment of health care reform legislation this year. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:50:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090922baucus-bill.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090922baucus-bill.html A health care bill put forth by Sen. Max Baucus, D-Mont., chair of the Senate Finance Committee, makes progress toward the twin goals of expanding access to affordable health care and strengthening the nation's primary care infrastructure, according to AAFP President Ted Epperly, M.D., of Boise, Idaho. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:00:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090923joint-ltr.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090923joint-ltr.html The AAFP has joined with a number of other physician groups to remind lawmakers that Congress needs to replace the sustainable growth rate, or SGR, formula as part of any comprehensive health care reform plan. ann@aafp.org Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:55:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090910obamaspeech.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090910obamaspeech.html Family physicians have been on the front lines in dealing with the problems of the current health care system, including skyrocketing coverage costs, fragmentation of care and a payment environment that values procedures over prevention, said AAFP President Ted Epperly, M.D., in response to a Sept. 9 speech by President Obama to a joint session of Congress. jarvantes@aafp.org Thu, 10 Sep 2009 17:55:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090828feeschedulecomments.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090828feeschedulecomments.html Monday, Aug. 31, is the last opportunity for AAFP members to comment on CMS' proposed 2010 Medicare physician fee schedule, which was published in the July 13 Federal Register. ann@aafp.org Fri, 28 Aug 2009 15:45:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090825pc-import.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090825pc-import.html The emergence of primary care as a central part of the health care reform debate demonstrates just how far primary care has come during the past several years in driving and shaping health care policy, according to physician leaders and health policy analysts interviewed by AAFP News Now. "Primary care, 15 years ago, was nowhere near as respected or valued as it is now," says AAFP President Ted Epperly, M.D., of Boise, Idaho. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 25 Aug 2009 16:05:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090819white-house-mtg.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090819white-house-mtg.html AAFP leaders have been busy recently, talking face-to-face and via conference call with members of the Obama administration to stress the need to enact health care reform legislation that improves health care quality, enhances patient access and lowers costs via a primary care-based system. jarvantes@aafp.org Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:00:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090819deparle-rndtbl.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090819deparle-rndtbl.html Advanced models of primary care were the focus of an Aug. 10 roundtable discussion convened by Nancy-Ann DeParle, director of the White House Office of Health Reform. "We need to focus on improving the quality of outcomes, making sure that we're providing preventive care, and better coordinating care for patients with chronic diseases, and all of those are things that primary care has a critical role to play in doing," DeParle told roundtable participants. jarvantes@aafp.org Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:45:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090812medicare-fee-schedule.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090812medicare-fee-schedule.html A proposed rule that would alter the 2010 Medicare physician fee schedule in favor of family physician services has resulted in commendation from the Academy. The AAFP is "grateful for the recognition of and support for the value of primary care represented by several key policy changes proposed in this rule," said AAFP Board Chair Jim King, M.D., of Selmer, Tenn., in an 18-page letter to CMS Acting Administrator Charlene Frizzera. sporter@aafp.org Wed, 12 Aug 2009 15:20:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090811chc-stimulus-funding.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090811chc-stimulus-funding.html The recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, or ARRA, has provided an immediate infusion of funds into the nation's community health centers, enabling them to expand care and to retain or hire additional staff, according to an analysis conducted by the National Association of Community Health Centers, or NACHC. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 11 Aug 2009 15:10:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090810medicaid-ehr-bonus.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090810medicaid-ehr-bonus.html A new report estimates that as many as 45,000 office-based physicians who participate in Medicaid and use electronic health records, or EHRs, could collect as much as $63,750 paid out over a six-year period as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Notably, about 9,800 primary care physicians -- defined by report authors as family physicians, internists and general practitioners -- could qualify for the bonuses. sporter@aafp.org Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:20:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090810cms-pilot-project.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090810cms-pilot-project.html CMS still has not received final approval to conduct a medical home demonstration project within the Medicare program, which means the project will not be fully under way for at least another year, according to Jim Coan, the CMS project officer in charge of the demonstration project. jaravantes@aafp.org Mon, 10 Aug 2009 15:35:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090731king-conf.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090731king-conf.html AAFP Board Chair Jim King, M.D., of Selmer, Tenn., urged Congress this week to enact health care reform legislation to avert a deepening crisis that threatens to derail the nation's health care delivery system and to curtail or deny access to care for millions of Americans. jarvantes@aafp.org Fri, 31 Jul 2009 16:20:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090729ransone-tstmny.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090729ransone-tstmny.html As many primary care practices face declining payments and higher operating costs, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to access capital to invest in health information technology, or health IT. An initiative that would allow physicians to secure loans through commercial vendors to purchase health IT systems and give them a deferral period to pay back the loans would help, according to FP Sterling Ransone, M.D., of Deltaville, Va., who testified July 23 before the House Small Business Committee's Subcommittee on Finance and Tax. jarvantes@aafp.org Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:00:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090729obama-nws-conf.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090729obama-nws-conf.html During a July 22 prime time news conference, President Obama said that Americans can no longer wait for health care reform, a position with which the AAFP emphatically agrees. jarvantes@aafp.org Wed, 29 Jul 2009 16:25:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090722pcpcc-clancy.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090722pcpcc-clancy.html Congress and the Obama administration have reached the same conclusion about health care reform -- successful reform will not happen without a focus on primary care and the patient-centered medical home, or PCMH. That was one of the main messages delivered by a variety of federal officials during a July 16 Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative, or PCPCC, stakeholders meeting in Washington. jarvantes@aafp.org Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:45:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090722house-bill-ltr.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090722house-bill-ltr.html The AAFP has responded to a House health care reform bill, saying in a recent letter to the three committees responsible for drafting the legislation that it supports the bill -- certain provisions in particular -- but that it has concerns about various parts of the legislation. ann@aafp.org Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:15:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090722publ-plan-king.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20090722publ-plan-king.html The AAFP has reiterated that it supports a public plan option as part of a larger health care reform measure, as long as the public plan is consistent with certain principles. ann@aafp.org Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:25:00 CDT Government & Medicine