http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine.html en-us Copyright 2013 American Academy of Family Physicians http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130517fmcc-coverage.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130517fmcc-coverage.html This year's Family Medicine Congressional Conference (FMCC) took place amid growing optimism that Congress finally would succeed in repealing and replacing the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula with a Medicare payment system that would better recognize and reward physicians who provide primary care services. "Congress and the administration are really engaged in dialogue to move beyond the SGR," said Jason Dees, D.O., who introduced a plenary session on primary care payment and valuation at the FMCC on May 14. "And we all know that is essential for the health of our practices." ann@aafp.org Fri, 17 May 2013 17:15:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130513parityinforequest.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130513parityinforequest.html The AAFP and several other physician organizations are calling on CMS to provide more information and clarification about how physicians can qualify for a provision in the health care reform law that will pay them more for providing Medicaid services in 2013 and 2014. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act put in place a provision to bring Medicaid rates for primary care services at least in line with Medicare levels in 2013 and 2014. To qualify for the parity provision, participating physicians are required to either self-attest that 60 percent of their claims billed to Medicaid are evaluation and management codes or that they are board-certified in one of the primary care specialties. ann@aafp.org Mon, 13 May 2013 14:00:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130513bipartisanreport.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130513bipartisanreport.html A recent study issued by the Bipartisan Policy Center concludes that the U.S. health care system could achieve billions of dollars in savings and improve patient care and satisfaction rates by fundamentally changing the way health care is paid for and delivered in this country. "We are convinced that reforming our nation's health care system to prioritize quality and value over volume will not only improve health outcomes and the patient experience, but also constrain costs and produce systemwide savings," says the report from the center, a think tank headed by former Senate Majority leaders Tom Daschle, D-S.D., and Bill Frist, R-Tenn.; former Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.; and former Congressional Budget Office Director Alice Rivlin, Ph.D. ann@aafp.org Mon, 13 May 2013 16:45:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130503sgrrepeal.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130503sgrrepeal.html The AAFP continues to press Congress for repeal of the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula and enactment of measures to transition Medicare from a volume-based to a value-based system. As part of its ongoing effort to repeal and replace the SGR, the AAFP has joined with other members of the broad-based National Coalition on Health Care in sending a letter to congressional leaders that calls for "bipartisan action this year to permanently repeal the SGR and transition Medicare reimbursement toward a value-based system." ann@aafp.org Fri, 03 May 2013 16:25:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130430truthinadvertising.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130430truthinadvertising.html The AAFP and other physician-led organizations have expressed support for a bipartisan House bill that would legally prohibit health care professionals from making deceptive statements or engaging in behavior that misleads patients in advertisements and marketing efforts. The bill, known as the Truth in Healthcare Marketing Act, or H.R. 1427, also requires the Federal Trade Commission to pay particular attention to false and misleading advertising among all health care professionals and to provide added resources for the enforcement of consumer protection laws in the health care setting. ann@aafp.org Tue, 30 Apr 2013 14:15:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130426rusttestimony.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130426rusttestimony.html Congress could alleviate the nation's growing shortage of primary care physicians by making a greater investment in primary care training programs and taking steps to ensure that more medical school and residency training takes place outside of hospitals and in the community. That was one of the key messages delivered by family physician George Rust, M.D., M.P.H., and other witnesses who testified before the Senate, Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging on April 24. ann@aafp.org Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:30:00 CDT Government & Medicine http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130424healthitltr.html http://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/publications/news/news-now/government-medicine/20130424healthitltr.html The federal government is looking for ways to speed the uptake of electronic health record technology among family physicians and other health care professionals, and is asking for input from stakeholders, such as the AAFP, on ways CMS and the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) could adjust existing policies and programs to accelerate electronic health information exchange. AAFP Board Chair Glen Stream, M.D., M.B.I., of Spokane, Wash., responded to a list of questions posed by HHS in an April 18 letter to ONC National Coordinator Farzad Mostashari, M.D. ann@aafp.org Wed, 24 Apr 2013 16:40:00 CDT Government & Medicine