AZAFP Discussion Forums Now Open!
In this area, we will be presenting various subjects for discussion and input from across the medical spectrum of Arizona and the U.S.A.
If any of these subjects appeal to you, please weigh in! Only through your participation can we create a better health care system for our patients, our families and our profession.
United Health Care Update
Update from United Health Care
July 19, 2010
Laura Hahn recently met with Robert Beauchamp, MD, Medical Director for United Health Care. Here is what she learned.
- United will be mailing letters to physicians in August of 2010 regarding the Premium Designation Program.
- United will be rolling out a new model of care very soon called “Lifeprint”. This new care model will work with Medicare Advantage patients (about 30,000 lives) to provide chronic care services in an outpatient setting. There will be a “Lifeprint clinic” that physicians will have the option of referring these chronic care patients to in lieu of the hospital. To read the entire “Lifeprint Clinical Model Review” click here.
Arizona’s Gubernatorial Candidates’ stances on Health Care
With the two recent Republican drop outs of the race for Arizona Governor, I thought it would be interesting to compare the two remaining candidates for Governor. The incumbent Jan Brewer and Terry Goddard. It was difficult to find a lot of health care related information on either one of them. However, I found a little bit on each one and placed it below. I also provided links to each of their websites so that you can decide for yourself who would be better for Arizona family physicians. The Arizona Academy of Family Physicians does not endorse candidates. The AzAFP does have a political action committee but has not contributed to either candidate for Governor.
New- Medicare Important Notices! June 2010
CMS Clarifies Signature Requirements for Medicare Participating Docs
AAFP Responds With New Resources for FPs
By Sheri Porter
6/2/2010
Most physicians would prefer to avoid being targeted in the cross hairs of a Medicare auditor. The key to doing so, according to Cynthia Hughes, C.P.C., an AAFP coding specialist, is to understand and follow CMS’ recently updated signature guidelines, which are outlined in the March 16 MLN Matters .
2 Arizona Resolutions will be sent to the AAFP!
This weekend, the AzAFP held it’s first all member meeting since the elimination of it’s COD earlier this year. This was a successful first run and the AzAFP plans to hold another similar meeting during the ACE conference in the Spring of 2011. The Board then approved two resolutions submitted by an AzAFP member and decided to sign on to a resolution created by the Colorado chapter of the AAFP. Below you can click on the links to view the resolutions!
Arizona A- Use of Social Media to Improve Participation and Advocacy
Arizona B- Streaming Media to Improve Participation in National Meetings
Colorado A- Survival of Independent Primary Care Practices