Check out one thing you can do to really help an important aspect of healthcare reform, described below. I just did it, and it took me under 30 seconds.
But first, you can join "Connect for Reform" actions/updates on healthcare reform in 2 easy steps:
1) Become a medical student member of the American Academy of Family Physicians
here. (Free! Takes 1 minute, & you also get great free benefits e.g. have the great
AFP journal mailed to you every month)
2) Once you register, go to the AAFP homepage
http://www.aafp.org/ , and click on the "AAFP Connect for Reform" button to join.
-Abe
P.S. pass this along to other med student Primary Care advocates!
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From:
Kevin Burke <connect...@aafp.org>
Date: Wed, Dec 9, 2009 at 2:30 AM
Subject: Protect Primary Care Payments
To: Abraham <
abraha...@downstate.edu>
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Dear Abraham,
As you know, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently set the 2010 Physician Fee Schedule, which includes a provision to balance practice expense payment rates for all providers. The rates were developed from independently verified data gathered from all major medical and health care professional groups.
This independent review showed primary care services were undervalued, and the new CMS rule responded with a 5-8 percent increase for primary care services. This increase will be phased in over 4 years.
Now, cardiologists are putting up a serious fight to encourage Congress to overturn this rule. They claim these new payment rules will unjustly cut their reimbursements, and they’re misleading Congress by exaggerating what they stand to lose. Their claims of a 30 percent payment cut include the 21.2% SGR cut that all physicians face on January 1, 2010, and we know that Congress will not allow this 21% cut to go into effect.
Help us keep a level playing field and ensure fair payment for providers and quality care for all patients. Contact your Representative and tell him or her to stand up for quality care for all and stand behind the Physician Practice Information Survey 2010 implementation.
We made it easy by providing a template email. After sending your message, share your thoughts on the Connect for Reform blog.
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Thanks again,
Kevin
Kevin Burke
Director, Government Relations
American Academy of Family Physicians |
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