The Academy will continually monitor and track legislation and when appropriate offer testimony in favor of bills that support initiatives promoting and improving patient care as well as improving practice environments.
The Academy will also monitor and track legislation and when appropriate offer testimony in opposition of bills that may place unnecessary burdens on patients or the practice of family medicine.
Priorities include:
Advocacy
2005-2006 Legislative Session Priorities
- Support legislative and regulatory initiatives that will:
- Provide universal access to health care.
- Reduce financial barriers that impede access to health care by vulnerable populations.
- Ensure adequate reimbursement for health facilities providing care for the underserved and underinsured.
- Have a positive impact in reducing medical errors including the expanded use of electronic medical records.
- Ensure access to affordable prescription drugs for all under the direct supervision of the physician.
- Simplify the physician credentialing and recredentialing process by health insurers.
- Achieve fairness in family physician’s contracts with health insurers, and in the process of negotiating these contracts.
- Improve the timeliness of claims payments due to family physicians by health insurers and other payors.
- Improve MassHealth patients’ access to family physicians by providing adequate financial compensation.
- Provide comprehensive medical liability reform.
- Endorse public health and safety issues e.g., seat belts, helmets
- Oppose legislation that would place unnecessary regulations on family physicians.
- Advocate for continued usage of all tobacco settlement funds for health related purposes and support restoration of full funding to the MDPH tobacco control program.
- Promote the recognition and reimbursement of family physicians in providing mental health services and substance abuse.
- Monitor the standing commissions/committees of the Departments of Public Health and Medical assistance and participate when appropriate.
- Continue to support maternity care and care of the child as an integral part of family medicine and resist efforts to restrict privileges in these areas.
- Strengthen MassAFP’s legislative presence through a visitation program with key senators and representatives involved in health related issues.
- Maintain surveillance over the physician license process and requirements of the Board of Registration in Medicine.
- Develop alliances and relationships with other medical specialties.
- Scrutinize proposed legislation pertaining to the scope of practice of non-physicians.
100 Cummings Center Suite 325C
Beverly, MA 01915
Email: Information@MassAFP.org
Telephone: (978) 232-0022 | Fax: (978) 232-0072