American Academy of Family Physicians

Printer-friendly version

Share this on AAFP Connection

Share this page

Support Primary Care GME; Contact Your Legislators Now

Family Medicine Matters Video, Speak Out Alert Rally Members

By News Staff

As part of its Family Medicine Matters campaign, the AAFP has issued a Speak Out alert and a two-minute video that urge Academy members to contact their representatives in Washington now to help stop deep cuts in the nation's graduate medical education, or GME, programs.
AAFP Advocacy-man walking down Capitol stairs
"Congress needs to wake up and realize that if they cut GME and fail to protect primary care in the process, Americans simply won't have the family doctors they rely on," says AAFP President Glen Stream, M.D., M.B.I., of Spokane, Wash., in the video. "We can't let politicians make decisions that harm family physicians and our patients without hearing from us first. Tell Congress: Protect graduate medical education funding."

Stream tells AAFP members, "It's time to stand up and fight for our profession, our practices and our patients." He directs members to a website that allows them to contact their Washington representatives directly to voice support for GME and against proposed cuts to these programs.

Both Congress and the Obama administration have proposed steep cuts in GME funding that threaten the future of family medicine, says Stream. The president's fiscal commission recommends cutting $6 billion from GME, and the House wants to cut $14 billion, says Stream in the video. The Congressional Budget Office, meanwhile, has suggested turning GME into a grant program to save $25 billion, and now the bipartisan Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction -- also known as the "supercommittee" -- may target GME for cuts, notes Stream.

"GME is the source of most residency program funding," says Stream. "Without federal funding, teaching hospitals won't be able to sustain residencies, particularly primary care residencies. This means fewer well-trained family docs. And I don't have to tell you that this country needs us now more than ever."

The AAFP launched the Family Medicine Matters campaign on Oct. 14 in response to the federal government's search for ways to reduce the federal deficit. The campaign is designed to rally member and congressional support for three issues vital to the continued success of family medicine:
  • repeal of the sustainable growth rate formula,
  • protection of GME funding, and
  • increased funding for Title VII health professions training grants.

Share this on AAFP Connection

Search AAFP News Now

 

Government & Medicine

Fee-For-Service Is Here to Stay for Now, Says Policy Expert

Legislators Air Differing Views on Health Care Reform

OTC Prescription Provision Creates Burden

House Bill Would Reform Medicare Payment

Pharmacists Prescribing? Absolutely Not, Says AAFP

AAFP, Others Asks CMS to Re-evaluate Penalty Timelines

Proposed CMS Rule on Overpayment Creates Difficulties

Nurse Education Demo Must Focus on Primary Care, Says AAFP

FP Advocacy Focus of Recent Visit to Capitol Hill

Funding Needed for Family Medicine Programs

Permanently Adopting Primary Care Pay Hike Could Save Billions

Study Highlights Role of CHCs in Health Care System

Ensuring Access to GME Is Focus of Message on Capitol Hill

Congress Passes Payment Patch, Fails to Repeal SGR

AAFP Continues to Press for SGR Repeal on Capitol Hill

Groups Demand That Congress Fix the SGR

PCMH Is Answer to Medicare Payment Problems

Physician Groups Unite to Call for SGR Repeal

Threatened Medicare Payment Cuts Cause Chaos for FPs

AAFP, Medical Organizations Push for SGR Repeal

Focus of Conference Call is Shared Savings, Advance Payment

AAFP Renews Push for SGR Fix

FPs Can Expect Slight Changes in Medicare Pay for 2012

HHS Approach to Essential Health Benefits Falls Flat

CMS Delays Implementation of 'Sunshine Act'

Congress Works Out Temporary Solution to SGR Cut

Community-based Residencies Would Benefit From House Bill

GME Funding to Remain Level in 2012

House Rejects Measure to Block Medicare Pay Cut

House Addresses Medicare Payment Cut

AAFP Backs Tavenner as New CMS Administrator

Supercommittee Fails to Address SGR

Overcoming Scarce Resources to Enact Health Care Reform

Medicare Payment: Value Is as Important as Volume

AAFP President-elect Makes Return Visit to Capitol Hill

Insurance Exchanges, CO-OPs Might Provide Opportunity for FPs

AAFP Members Speak Out on Title VII Funding

Campaign Addresses Need for Medicare Payment Reform

AAFP Continues to Press Congress for Payment Solution

AAFP Leaders Take On Washington

Campaign Focuses on GME Outreach

'Family Medicine Matters,' AAFP Members Tell Congress

AAFP Outlines Suggested Changes for CO-OP Program

Groups Call on Supercommittee to Address Medical Liability Reform

Grassroots Efforts to Repeal SGR Continue

Bill Linking Mandatory Education to Prescribing Not Needed

Blended Payment Model Gives Boost to Primary Care Services

AAFP Joins AMA, Other Groups in Calling for SGR Repeal

Eliminating SGR May Come With High Price

Tobacco Oversight Must Include Cigars, Say AAFP, Other Groups

AAFP Rallies Congress of Delegates on Medicare Payment

AMA Task Force Focuses on Fixing the SGR

2012 Physician Fee Schedule Needs Work, Says AAFP

New Task Force Takes Steps to Better Value Primary Care

Deficit-reduction Plan Must Eliminate SGR, Says AAFP

Physicians File Lawsuit Over RUC, CMS Relationship

Policy Brief Explains HHS Insurance Exchange Plans

Deficit-reduction Plan Falls Short, Says AAFP President

YouTube Video Designed to Encourage SGR Repeal