
Budget Bill Addresses Important Primary Care Priorities
Mar 27, 2018 - The budget bill that Congress passed and President Trump signed March 23 funds important primary care initiatives, but leaves one important patient need unsettled.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180327budgetbill.html

State Bill to Expand PAs' Scope Pulled After AAFP Warning
Mar 26, 2018 - Tennessee legislators withdrew a proposal to allow some physician assistants greater authority after the AAFP pointed out the grave danger such a move would pose for patients.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180326dmsscope.html

AAFP Urges Improvements to Fledgling Patient Data Initiative
Mar 22, 2018 - The AAFP made detailed suggestions to improve CMS' recently announced initiative to improve patients' access to and control of their electronic health data.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180322myhealthedata.html

AAFP Advises VA on Proposed Rules to Expand Patient Access
Mar 20, 2018 - The AAFP recently gave the Department of Veterans Affairs feedback on a proposed rule that could affect physician payment, prior authorization and scope of practice.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180320vapayment.html

AAFP, Missouri Chapter Warn State About Opioids Overreach
Mar 15, 2018 - By treating voluntary recommendations based partly on insufficient evidence as a firm rule, state officials are undermining physicians and may harm patients.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180315missouriopioids.html

AAFP Joins Call for Congress to Reduce Health Care Costs
Mar 14, 2018 - Congress needs to act soon to reduce health care costs for those who buy their own insurance, the AAFP and several other organizations told legislators recently.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180314stabilizationltr.html

AAFP Warns Against Expanding Association Health Plans
Mar 7, 2018 - The AAFP recently cautioned the Department of Labor that a proposed rule could lead to more health plans that provide fewer benefits at higher costs.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180307assocplans.html

AAFP Advises CMS on Prior Authorizations, Opioid Epidemic
Mar 7, 2018 - The AAFP recently made recommendations to CMS on how to address specific issues with Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D programs.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180307medicareadv.html

Fix Physician Payment to Stem Opioid Epidemic, Says AAFP
Feb 27, 2018 - A starting point for addressing the nation's opioid misuse epidemic would be to ensure physicians can spend enough time with patients and are compensated appropriately, the AAFP recently told a Senate committee.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180227senateopioid.html

AAFP Advises ONC, Continues Fight for Interoperability
Feb 23, 2018 - The AAFP recently offered suggestions to the federal government on a draft document that lays out a plan to prioritize nationwide health IT interoperability.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180223oncletter.html

AAFP, Chapters Caution HHS on Changing Medicaid Eligibility
Feb 22, 2018 - The AAFP is assisting chapters that want to communicate with HHS or their state governments about proposals to impose work requirements on some Medicaid beneficiaries.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180222medicaidwaivers.html

2017 Hurricanes, Wildfires Impact ACOs' Ability to Succeed
Feb 20, 2018 - The AAFP has asked for changes to a CMS interim final rule regarding 2017 disasters and accountable care organization policies.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180220msspdisaster.html

AAFP Webinar Maps State Primary Care Spending Success
Feb 13, 2018 - A webinar on Feb. 21 will highlight state-level increases in primary care spending and offer tools to help spur similar success in more states.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180213advwebinar.html

Federal Budget Deal Brings Wins for Family Medicine
Feb 13, 2018 - The Bipartisan Budget Act brings needed support for many AAFP priorities that will help family physicians and the nearly 200 million patients they care for.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180213federalbudget.html

Time to Register, Reactivate Open Payments Account
Feb 12, 2018 - Physicians and teaching hospitals can submit data to CMS' Open Payments system until March 31; beginning in April, they can preview data others have entered about them.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180212openpayregister.html

AAFP Outlines Steps to Reduce Administrative Burden
Feb 9, 2018 - The AAFP recently laid out concrete solutions to the problem of administrative burden in a letter to two federal agencies.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180209burdenletter.html

AAFP to FCC: Improve Rural Telehealth to Support Primary Care
Feb 5, 2018 - The AAFP has responded to a proposed rule on rural telehealth from the Federal Communications Commission by offering suggestions for supporting physicians and improving patient care.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180205ruraltelehealth.html

AAFP Steers HHS on Protecting Patient Choice in Health Care
Feb 2, 2018 - Family physicians focus on providing necessary care to patients, but ongoing consolidation in health care is limiting basic access, a point the AAFP recently reiterated to HHS.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180202hhschoiceltr.html

Keep Tabs on CMS Initiative to Reduce Paperwork
Jan 25, 2018 - CMS recently launched an online newsletter to keep physicians informed about its new Patients Over Paperwork initiative.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180125popnewsletter.html

MedPAC Recommends Replacing MIPS With New Proposal
Jan 22, 2018 - The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission recently proposed a replacement for the Merit-based Incentive Payment System that it contends would be less burdensome and more effective.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180122medpacmips.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
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine.html

Key Health Programs Need Funding Now, AAFP Tells Congress
Jan 17, 2018 - The AAFP is keeping pressure on Congress to quickly reauthorize long-term funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program and three other vital health programs..
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180117reauthorize.html

AAFP Steers CMS on Proposed Changes to Medicare Advantage
Jan 17, 2018 - The AAFP recently gave CMS detailed suggestions on how the agency could improve a proposed rule covering the Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Benefit programs.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20180117medicarecomment.html

Health Care Must Be Priority for Congress in New Year, Says AAFP
Dec 22, 2017 - Legislators must work on stabilizing and improving the health care system when they return to Washington, the AAFP and other medical organizations said.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20171222congressnewyear.html

Word Ban Harms CDC Work to Protect Public Health, AAFP Warns
Dec 16, 2017 - Restricting precise communication for political purposes will make it more difficult to protect the public health, the AAFP warned the administration.
AAFP News : Government and Medicine
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20171216cdcterms.html