FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, April 2, 2021
Statement attributable to:
Ada D. Stewart, MD
President
American Academy of Family Physicians
““The American Academy of Family Physicians welcomes the release of the American Jobs Plan, which kicks off an important conversation about critical investments necessary to further strengthen our nation’s health care system and address underlying social determinants of health that contribute to health inequities. .
“We commend the Biden administration for the plan’s provisions to expand Medicaid Home and Community Based Services, upgrade Veterans Affairs hospitals, protect clean drinking water, expand public transportation infrastructure, and invest in broadband and medical manufacturing. These actions, along with other economic measures, will help promote health equity.
“Family physicians are committed to improving health equity by addressing the social determinants of health to prioritize preventive health and management of chronic conditions. Family physicians care about health equity and the negative effects climate change has on health, particularly for vulnerable populations. We are well positioned to address these issues with our patients and in our communities, but broader infrastructure investment is needed to address pervasive inequities that lead to health disparities.
“In addition to improving public infrastructure, investing in primary care is another vital step to advancing health equity and improving preparedness for future public health crises.
“The AAFP is ready to work with the Biden administration to address longstanding and persistent racial injustice through economic revitalization, and we look forward to working with the administration to strengthen, grow, and diversify our primary care workforce.”
Editor's Note: To arrange an interview with Dr. Stewart, contact Megan Moriarty, 800-274-2237, Ext. 6052, or mmoriarty@aafp.org.
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About American Academy of Family Physicians
Founded in 1947, the AAFP represents 130,000 physicians and medical students nationwide. It is the largest medical society devoted solely to primary care. Family physicians conduct approximately one in five office visits — that’s 192 million visits annually or 48 percent more than the next most visited medical specialty. Today, family physicians provide more care for America’s underserved and rural populations than any other medical specialty. Family medicine’s cornerstone is an ongoing, personal patient-physician relationship focused on integrated care. To learn more about the specialty of family medicine and the AAFP's positions on issues and clinical care, visit www.aafp.org. For information about health care, health conditions and wellness, please visit the AAFP’s consumer website, www.familydoctor.org.