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. 

• The United/IBM Patient Centered Medical Home pilot is in its 2^nd year of its two year pilot.  There have been some data recorded at this point and the only reportable piece is that emergency room visits are down for participating physicians’ patients.  There are no immediate plans to expand the pilot but higher ups at United say that if the results are good once the study is complete, they will likely make sure that primary care physicians are paid more for services.  To read the entire informational packet on the PCMH pilot, please click here. 
• Optum Health is offering physicians a chance to contract with their company, the “Now Clinic” to offer 24/7 phone consults with physicians.  Patients will be charged $45 for the first 10 minutes with the option of extending the conversation for an additional 3 minutes for no extra charge.  If you are interested in participating or just want to know more about the “Now Clinic” you can contact James Springrose, MD at 480-596-7915 or email him at james.springrose@optumhealth.com.  To read the informational packet on this topic please click here. 

Terry Goddard

This year, Arizona was the only state in the nation to refuse federal State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) money.  In a decision that defies logic, Arizona taxpayers almost lost out on a four-to-one match in federal funds. Over 36,000 low income Arizona kids almost lost their health insurance.  And thousands of Arizona families faced unnecessary trips to the emergency room and lost time from work to care for sick children.

Terry Goddard won’t make that mistake.   He’ll fight to protect Arizona families by keeping more kids insured, healthy and out of emergency rooms.  He’ll make sure Arizona taxpayers receive their fair share of federal tax dollars.  And he will never endanger the health of our children to make political points.

What, if anything, should Arizona do to improve health care for its citizens?
Goddard’s answer:
A. Arizona must assure sufficient funding for Arizona’s voter-approved health insurance program, which provides health insurance for more than 300,000 adults.  If the governor and legislature have their way, Arizona’s health care industry would be devastated, losing more than 42,000 jobs and $3 billion from the private economy.  This would cripple healthcare services for all Arizonans and further undermine our economy.  
 
I would lift the freeze on KidsCare.  It is unconscionable that this governor and legislature have forced children to forego the medical care that they need, all to save less than $10 million annually.  I think we all can agree that taking care of our kids makes for healthier adults who need less medical care and that saves our state money.
 
We must restore funding for physician education and training programs, which will result in more primary care physicians and specialists to provide health care services across Arizona.  Additionally, we should:
 
·     Continue building the Phoenix Biomedical Campus with the University of Arizona.

• Create a prompt and well-organized pandemic and disaster response plan that monitors health hazards in the community, including disease outbreaks, food-borne illnesses, and natural disasters.
• Implement targeted education and prevention programs to ensure Arizonans know how to protect themselves from infectious disease, including flu strains, swine flu, and pneumonia.

http://www.terrygoddard.com/
Governor Jan Brewer

We don’t want federal help; sue to remain independent

I met recently with members of Arizona’s federal delegation and asked them to defeat a costly expansion of federal health care mandates on our state. Already, federal mandates on health care cost nearly $ 2 billion a year. Folks, that’s money we simply don’t have.

On top of that, Washington’s alleged solution will cost Arizona another half billion dollars every year. Only in Washington can they look upon massive federal entitlement programs bleeding red ink–and propose an even bigger new entitlement program.

The President and the Congress tell us they are going to help by reducing costs. In reality, what they are doing is eliminating freedom for our citizens, dictating the policies they must buy for their families, and forcing our employers and the state to pick up the tab.

We don’t need that kind of help. At last count, 14 Attorneys General, Republican and Democrat are investigating this legislation for violating the 10th Amendment to the United States Constitution.

http://azgovernor.gov/

 This page will be updated as we receive more information on these candidates’ health care positions.

We have a few months to make a difference, and our success depends in great part on AAFP members. Our U.S. Senators and Representative need to hear from members during the next several weeks. They need to hear that we want an extension of the current “doc fix” beyond Nov. 30. They also need to know that we want a permanent solution to this annual (and sometimes month-by-month) problem.

Your AAFP has developed the Medicare Action Tool Kit to help members help ourselves and family medicine click here to view the tool kit. 

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

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.

Click here to go to the new AZAFP Forums Site! ]]> http://azafp.org/?feed=rss2&p=803 0 http://azafp.org/?p=645 http://azafp.org/?p=645#comments Tue, 22 Dec 2009 19:59:08 +0000 HerbHolland1 http://azafp.org/?p=645 The AAFP came out with a paper on Health Care Reform (including their policy) which addresses what to tell medical students and residents as well as how they believe the primary care workforce should be invigorated.  Click here to view/print their piece. 

We are interested to hear what YOU have to say members of the AZAFP!  Please make comments here so that we can all have a healthy discussion about this issue!  Simply click on the title above (AAFP Health Care Reform Update) in order to leave a reply.