Maryann Martindale It is easy to be jaded in our current climate, but we’re approaching this with cautious optimism. And we intend to work with the collaborative and follow progress very closely to ensure that whatever improvements are made, they are in the best interests of our doctors and their patients. We are a critical voice in this work. What is the future of health care? No doubt, a question we have all asked. With the ACA, Medicaid expansion, telehealth, and all the other changes we’ve seen over the last decade, there are still areas that need work. We’re still seeing too much administrative burden, unnecessary delays and challenges with preauthorization, drug costs continue to spiral out of control, and the list goes on and on. And for every problem, there is a laundry list of suggestions. Utah’s Governor Cox has highlighted health care improvement as a goal of his administration. He has organized the One Utah Health Collaborative, made up of stakeholders in healthcare and government, to make Utah the national leader in affordable, innovative healthcare. By the time this is published, we will have held a listening session to collect input and thus presented a report to the governor’s collaborative with recommendations from the unique perspective of Utah family physicians. All recommendations are on the table, from payment reform to primary care prioritization to reducing administrative burden to single payer options. We anticipate a very robust discussion, and we will work to ensure it stays focused on positive outcomes and better delivery of service, not just bottom-line economic results. Maryann Martindale and board member Dr. Shannon Baker Economic impact is obviously a critical component, and substantive change will likely require significant investment, which has not been as forthcoming in the past. But if the governor is sincere in his desire to make positive change, then it is critical for us to be at the table when those changes are debated. Just as with any political platform, the question is always the same — is there truly a will to make meaningful change or is this mere platitude? It is easy to be jaded in our current climate, but we’re approaching this with cautious optimism. And we intend to work with the collaborative and follow progress very closely to ensure that whatever improvements are made, they are in the best interests of our doctors and their patients. We are a critical voice in this work. As the saying goes, “cradle to grave, nose to toes,” the family physician covers it all. Who better to provide insight to the Governor’s task force than you, the family physician? Making Utah the leader in healthcare is a lofty goal, to be certain. Utah has an uneasy relationship with healthcare initiatives. It took a decade to pass Medicaid expansion, and then only after a citizen referendum. During the past couple of years with COVID, we saw several ill-advised decisions related to treatments and mask mandates, and there are numerous instances where the legislature has challenged the wisdom and autonomy of physicians. But if Governor Cox is genuine, we are more than willing to help. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S MESSAGE UtahAFP.org | 6
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