We were joined virtually by outgoing AAFP president, Dr. Ada Stewart. Her remarks were poignant and timely, and she was kind enough to let us share them with you: I am honored to bring you Greetings from the National Academy of Family Physicians. Wow, what a year I have had ... What an 18-plus months we have had! Who would have predicted I would be greeting you all virtually again? Thank you for giving me the opportunity. Throughout this public health emergency, your national academy has been here for you, providing updated information related to COVID-19, being the go-to resource for you, your practice, your patients and your community. Throughout it all, our membership continues to be strong – 133,500 members strong – and I thank you! The AAFP continues to advocate for you and address your priorities that include: 1. Reducing Administrative Burdens 2. A dvocating for Health care systems and payment models that value primary care 3. Increasing overall payment 4. And Protecting Family Physician’s interests with regard to nonphysician providers We continue advocacy efforts around financial relief, especially during this pandemic and stress, and the need to follow science. We continue to FIGHT FOR FAMILY MEDICINE. Just this week I joined the Group of Six representing over 590,000 frontline physicians to Advocate around Medicaid Parity, The Integration of Behavioral Health and Primary Care, the Need to Advert the End-of-Year Medicare Cuts to Physicians and Maternal Mortality, to name a few. As we advocate, one must recognize how COVID has definitely changed the way we advocate – writing numerous letters on behalf of our specialty, our members, patients, and communities, and meeting virtually, just as I am meeting with you this evening. But no matter what the method, the goal is still the same: “FIGHTING FOR FAMILY MEDICINE.” In May of 2021, AAFP praised the NASEM Report which recommends an increased investment in and access to high-quality primary care. The report, of which AAFP was one of the sponsors, stated “Primary care is the key to transforming health care in America.” Primary care is the only discipline of medicine where a greater supply is equated to better health outcomes, longer life expectancy and lower costs. NASEM’s report is the result of nearly 18 months of research and work to examine the role that primary care should play in the U.S. health care system. Its recommendations include: 1. P ay for primary care teams to care for people, not doctors to deliver services. 2. E nsure that high-quality primary care is available to every individual and family in every community. 3. T rain primary care teams where people live and work. 4. Design information technology that serves the patient, family, and interprofessional care team. 5. Ensure that high-quality primary care is implemented in the United States. With this report, we recognize it is time to change the conversation about primary care and finally deliver to the American people a health care system that prioritizes their health. That is why our organization, along with other key partners, came together to form Primary Care for America (primarycareforamerica. org), a collaboration focused on demonstrating the value of primary care, the need for increased primary care investment and the importance of innovation in primary care delivery and payment models. In coming together, we stated “We can’t wait another 50 years, or even another day, to deliver comprehensive, continuous and coordinated primary care to improve the health of all Americans.” This campaign will seek to educate policymakers, health care thought leaders, purchasers and employers and health care influencers on the value of primary care to individuals, communities, vulnerable populations and the health care system. One of the focuses is to position primary care as a solution to the major policy challenges, including health disparities and to increase the investment in primary care. As we look to transform healthcare and the future, we will continue to work hard to address diversity, Outgoing AAFP President Dr. Ada Stewart Member Dinner | Continued on page 12 11 |
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