House Bill to Expand Direct Primary Care Wins AAFP Support
Sep 27, 2016 - Lawmakers in the House introduced a bill that would change the tax code so the direct primary care model is not treated as a health plan or insurance.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160927dpcbill.html
AAFP Presses Congress to Protect Primary Care Program Funding
Sep 21, 2016 - The AAFP recently sent a letter to House and Senate leaders outlining primary care programs that should receive continued funding in the 2017 budget.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160921budgetpriorities.html
AAFP Presses House to Act on Family Caregiver Bill
Sep 13, 2016 - The AAFP recently joined 53 other organizations to urge congressional action on the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support and Engage Family Caregivers Act.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160913familycaregivers.html
Bill Extending Home-based Chronic Care Project Wins AAFP Support
Sep 12, 2016 - A Senate bill would make permanent CMS' Independence at Home demonstration project, which provides home-based primary care for patients with chronic conditions.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160912iahletter.html
AAFP Calls for Caution in Teleheath Bill's Language
Sep 6, 2016 - The AAFP applauded adding a telehealth benefit to TRICARE, but warned against inadvertently undermining the current system of state medical licensure.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160906tricaretelehealth.html
AAFP Urges Review, Rewrite of Portions of Proposed Rule
Aug 31, 2016 - The AAFP has responded to a CMS proposed rule that would modify Medicare's 2017 hospital outpatient prospective payment system and more.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160831oppsletter.html
AAFP Calls for Revisions in Proposed 2017 Physician Fee Schedule
Aug 24, 2016 - The AAFP is commending the 2017 proposed Medicare physician fee schedule for valuing primary care but has also called for many revisions to the proposal.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160824feeschedule.html
AAFP Urges CMS to Rework Proposed New Patient Codes
Aug 23, 2016 - The AAFP gave CMS frank feedback detailing how the agency should change a proposal to create new patient relationship codes that may factor into incentive payments.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160823relationshipcodes.html
CMS Fields New Pilot Program to Bolster Medicare Advantage
Aug 16, 2016 - The new Medicare Advantage Value-based Insurance Design Model initiative will permit health plans to be more flexible when designing incentives for enrollees.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160816medicareadvantage.html
AAFP Takes on Patient Experience Survey Issues
Aug 16, 2016 - The AAFP told CMS in a recent letter that patient satisfaction survey results should be used only to incentivize, not penalize, physicians.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160816patientsatisfaction.html
Alabama FPs Fight to Bring Back Medicaid Parity
Aug 15, 2016 - The Alabama AFP participated in press conferences hosted by a coalition of medical associations across the state to advocate for restoration of state Medicaid funding.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160815alabamamedicaid.html
AAFP Fights Proposed Reporting for Opioid Use Disorder Care
Aug 8, 2016 - A proposed rule would call on physicians to track the progress of patients who receive medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorders.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160808matletter.html
$149 Million in HRSA Grants Highlight Primary Care Workforce Needs
Jul 27, 2016 - Health Resources and Services Administration grants totaling $149 million are intended to shore up primary care training and address key workforce needs.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160727hrsagrants.html
AAFP Joins Push Against Greater Authority for APRNs in VA Facilities
Jul 26, 2016 - Dozens of medical organizations, including the AAFP, are pushing back against a proposal by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that would allow nurses to practice independently inside VA facilities.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160726vasign-on.html
Proposed Medicare Fee Schedule Emphasizes Primary Care's Value
Jul 18, 2016 - The AAFP has summarized for family physicians key points of the recently released 2017 proposed Medicare physician fee schedule.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160718mpfs.html
Sweeping Opioid Bill Heads to President's Desk
Jul 15, 2016 - The Senate has joined the House in adopting the conference report on the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 by an overwhelming margin; the measure now heads to the president's desk.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160715opioidbill.html
AAFP Decries VA Plan to Expand Nurses' Scope of Practice
Jul 15, 2016 - The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seeking to expand the scope of practice for advanced practice registered nurses in VA facilities by granting them independent practice authority.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160715valetter.html
AAFP Takes Credit for Progress Made in CMS' Proposed Rule
Jul 13, 2016 - After repeated legislative and advocacy efforts by the AAFP, CMS has made changes in a proposed rule that will benefit family physicians.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160713oppsrule.html
AAFP Fights to Block Undue 'Sunshine' Reporting Requirements
Jul 12, 2016 - The AAFP recently joined more than a hundred other medical organizations to support legislation intended to clarify what is and isn't reportable under the Physician Payments Sunshine Act.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160712sunshineletter.html
HHS Grant Helps Small Practices Move to Value-based Models
Jul 6, 2016 - A new grant program from HHS aims to help physicians in rural and underserved areas make the transition to value-based payment models.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160706smallpractgrant.html
CMS Says Part B Proposal Protects Patient Access
Jul 5, 2016 - CMS outlined a proposed change in how Medicare Part B pays for prescription drugs that would encourage pharmaceutical companies to improve quality and reduce costs.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160705partbproposal.html
Nov 10, 2011 - Government and Medicine articles including federal government, state government, health policy, health legislation, and related stories.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine.html
Medicare Payment Reform Needed for Chronic Care
Jun 22, 2016 - Chronic care patients require substantial care coordination that should be better supported by Medicare payments, said health policy experts during a recent panel discussion.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160622chroniccare.html
AAFP, Other Groups Press Congress to Act Fast on Zika Funding
Jun 17, 2016 - The AAFP and three other medical specialty groups urged leaders of a congressional conference committee to quickly reconcile the House and Senate Zika funding bills.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160617zikafunding.html
ONC Transparency Efforts Help FPs Make Informed EHR Selections
Jun 10, 2016 - On June 1, the federal government began listing online more detailed and physician-friendly information about certified health IT products.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
http://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20160610onctransparency.html