http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine.html en-us Copyright 2011 American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111206tavenner.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111206tavenner.html The AAFP has announced its support for Marilyn Tavenner, M.A., as the new administrator of CMS, noting that the former health system administrator and state director of health programs has worked throughout her career to "ensure that patients have access to high-quality care and that health professionals are paid appropriately." In a statement from the Academy, AAFP President Glen Stream, M.D., M.B.I., of Spokane, Wash., said "(Tavenner) understands the flaws in our current health care system and has helped frame meaningful solutions. Moreover, her experience on both the state and national levels brings a perspective that will help ensure federal health policies meet patients' needs without adversely affecting state programs." ann@aafp.org Tue, 06 Dec 2011 15:25:00 CST Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111121supercommittee.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111121supercommittee.html Today's announcement that the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the "supercommittee," failed in its efforts to reach a budget compromise drew a swift and frustrated response from the AAFP. The supercommittee's failure to recommend a repeal of the deeply flawed formula used to determine Medicare's payments to physicians has "condemned millions of elderly and disabled Americans to ongoing health insecurity, said AAFP President Glen Stream, M.D., M.B.I., of Spokane, Wash., in a statement from the Academy. ann@aafp.org Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:55:00 CST Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111117statelegssystemreform.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111117statelegssystemreform.html State health care reform efforts have provided valuable lessons on how to build health care delivery and payment systems that promote quality, efficiency and care coordination. And during this year's AAFP State Legislative Conference Nov. 4-5 in Salt Lake City, a panel of experts related their experiences in realigning incentives in the health care delivery system. During the session "Dollars Drive Decisions: Delivery System Reform and Provider Payment," Karen Tseng, J.D., assistant attorney general for the health care division of the Massachusetts attorney general's office, talked about experiences with health care reform in her state. jarvantes@aafp.org Thu, 17 Nov 2011 15:45:00 CST Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111116helptestimony.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111116helptestimony.html In its continuing quest for a resolution to the Medicare payment problem, the AAFP once again has weighed in on the issue by calling on Congress to repeal the sustainable growth rate, or SGR, formula and enact permanent payment reform that includes a positive payment differential of at least 3 percent for primary care physicians. "Family medicine supports a clearly defined path to permanent payment reform," said AAFP President Glen Stream, M.D., M.B.I., of Spokane, Wash., in a written statement to the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, or HELP, Committee. ann@aafp.org Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:50:00 CST Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111115cainvisit.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111115cainvisit.html AAFP President-elect Jeffrey Cain, M.D., of Aurora, Colo., returned to Capitol Hill on Nov. 9 to continue pressing for a long-term Medicare payment solution and adequate funding for graduate medical education, or GME, programs during meetings with key congressional staff members. Cain last visited Capitol Hill on Oct. 20 with several other AAFP leaders, including AAFP President Glen Stream, M.D., M.B.I., of Spokane, Wash., AAFP Board Chair Roland Goertz, M.D., M.B.A., of Waco, Texas, and AAFP EVP Douglas Henley, M.D. The group met with a variety of congressional leaders and staff to push for a repeal of the SGR, a stable Medicare payment rate for a fixed number of years, and a higher payment rate for primary care physicians within that rate. jarvantes@aafp.org Tue, 15 Nov 2011 17:40:00 CST Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111109statelegconf.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111109statelegconf.html Family physicians have the unique ability to deliver on the promise of higher quality, lower costs and greater patient access to care. That puts them squarely in a position where they can drive and shape the creation and implementation of health insurance exchanges and consumer-operated and -oriented plans, or CO-OPs, according to speakers at a Nov. 4 plenary session during the 2011 AAFP State Legislative Conference in Salt Lake City. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which created state health insurance exchanges and CO-OPs to give consumers greater access to affordable, high-quality care, is ushering in health insurance market reforms that will cause "painful disruptions," according to Gordana Krkic, vice president of government relations for the Illinois AFP. But, she pointed out, these market reforms will give family physicians an opportunity to help accomplish the Academy's goal of health care for all. jarvantes@aafp.org Wed, 09 Nov 2011 17:10:00 CST Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111103fmmatterstitlevii.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20111103fmmatterstitlevii.html The single federal program that provides funding for training primary care physicians "is in critical condition," according to AAFP President Glen Stream, M.D., M.B.I., of Spokane, Wash. Congress needs to ensure that Title VII of the Public Health Service Act receives the $140 million it needs to continue functioning. Stream decried the threat to the primary care medicine training program during a new video released as part of the AAFP's Family Medicine Matters campaign. The campaign has been calling on members to contact their legislators and send them videos on funding for graduate medical education and repealing the sustainable growth rate, as well as on funding for Title VII. ann@aafp.org Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:15:00 CDT Government & Medicine