For half a century, these landmark initiatives have supported critical health care access for young and old alike, while providing an essential revenue base for health care providers. Today, both programs are evolving rapidly.
The AAFP has actively supported these reform efforts as the role primary care can play in improving both the efficiency and quality of care gains widespread recognition. At the same time, the AAFP understands that primary care physicians must be adequately compensated for the services they provide through means that are responsible without imposing excessive administrative complexity.
That’s why we will continue to advocate on behalf of family physicians to ensure that Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements appropriately reflect both the costs of clinical services and the new duties and responsibilities primary care physicians are taking on in the current reform-driven environment.
Primary care physicians face increasing administrative complexity even as compensation has lagged, further challenging crucial growth in our specialty. That's why the Academy advocates constantly to ensure the best possible Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, and to advance the payment models of the future.
MACRA creates a glide path to move our nation’s delivery and payment models away from the legacy fee-for-service system towards alternative payment models that align payment to quality and outcomes.
Learn about Direct Primary Care's role in innovating delivery systems and the AAFP's position to ensure fair payment for physicians under this payment model.
Medicaid payment should be at least equal to Medicare’s payment rate when provided by a primary care physician. The AAFP continues to advocate for increased Medicaid payment.
Understand how the repeal of SGR and the introduction of MACRA, as well as other issues being monitored by the AAFP, will continue to affect Medicare reimbursement for family physicians.
Data can be used to measure and improve the percentage of a state’s health care budget on primary care. Additionally, it reveals if your state has an APCD and, if it doesn't, how to create one.