Advocacy

ACOFP works closely with the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) to promote our members’ views regarding their patients’ health priorities to federal and state policymakers. ACOFP specifically focuses on those issues of importance to osteopathic family physicians and their day-to-day practices.

At the state level, ACOFP lobbyists work to ensure that the basic tenets of osteopathic medicine, from educational programs to licensure, are recognized at all levels of state government. These legislative representatives select priority health care topics by following legislative and regulatory trends, and identifying health care issues of importance to the osteopathic family medicine profession and their patients’ needs.

Priority issues for the 110th Congress at the state and federal level include:

ACOFP is looking to reform the Medicare physician payment by changing the Sustainable Growth Rate to a payment model that accurately reflects the cost to practice medicine and therefore reimburses at an appropriate rate.

The organization also is working to provide a framework for payment under Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) model. The PCMH has great potential to revitalize the practice of primary care and family medicine and should be incorporated into the future physician payment model.

Ensuring that existing and new Medicare services are properly reimbursed is another priority for ACOFP. ACOFP is specifically following Health Information Technology, Electronic Prescribing, Chronic Care Management Programs and Equity in reimbursements between Federal and State programs (Medicaid). ACOFP also is working to protect reimbursements for OMT services.

The Rural Physician Payment policies are being addressed through the Geographic Cost of Practice Indices (GPCI) and Scarcity Bonuses. ACOFP is working to improve policies that encourage practice in rural and underserved areas.

Regarding Graduate Medical Education, ACOFP is advocating for Direct and Indirect Medical Education funding, developing loan programs to hospitals to begin residency programs in primary care, creating avenues for utilization of Volunteer Faculty, supporting Title VII and other medical education programs as well as promoting residency opportunities in Community Health Centers and in concert with partnerships with Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine and the Veterans Administration.

ACOFP is promoting and protecting Physicians’ Ability to Care for Patients by advancing the principles of the Patient Centered Medical Home; protecting the physician-patient relationship, with attention to palliative and end-of-life care; reducing the expansion of scope of practice for non-physician providers; reducing regulatory burden placed upon physicians by the Federal government, state governments, and third party payers – especially for those with in-office laboratories; and monitoring development of a national databank for controlled substances. The Patient-Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC) has produced information on Frequently Asked Questions about the Patient-Centered Medical Home.

Medical Liability Reform is another key issue addressed by ACOFP. ACOFP is working toward the enactment of legislation that reduces the frequency and severity of medical liability claims by addressing the role of caps on non-economic damages and looking at alternatives such as health courts, arbitration, pre-litigation panels, and tax credits. ACOFP is also advocating to protect physicians ability to practice medicine by reducing mandated reductions in services by insurers and protecting office-based surgery and high-risk procedures.

An important and vital issue that ACOFP works toward is Patient Access to Quality Medical Care . ACOFP strives to ensure patient safety, monitor developments in quality reporting programs, provide access to health care for the uninsured and underinsured and ensure access to preventive health services, including flu vaccines.

Finally, ACOFP wants to develop and enhance programs that encourage ACOFP members to become active advocates for reform. ACOFP Washington Staff works to increase ACOFP participation in AOA advocacy programs such as D.O. Day on Capitol Hill, Every Patient Counts, and the D.O. Action Center.

The DO Advocacy Action Center provides DOs, students, and the osteopathic community with a central location to learn about the key legislative priorities, tracks bill votes, and provides a means for contacting federal and state legislators on key health care issues via email or fax.

Every Patient Counts is a coalition of patients, physicians, and others advocating for continued access to affordable, quality health care. ACOFP has been a member since the beginning. Every Patient Counts is committed to educating patients, physicians, and others about the need for comprehensive, effective medical liability reform. These reforms and improvements in patient safety programs enhance the quality of and access to health care for all Americans.

ACOFP actively participates in numerous coalitions, partnerships, and collaboratives to advance the principles and priorities of osteopathic family medicine. These coalitions include:

The newly formed Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease has proposed public policy recommendations to focus the nation's leaders -- including the 2008 presidential candidates -- on the crisis of chronic disease and highlight common-sense reforms that will help the nation.

Since its founding in 1920, the National Health Council has established itself as a dynamic forum for policy development - the place where all segments of the health care community meet for reasoned discussion and persuasive advocacy. The National Health Council promotes the health of all people, and supports and advocates on behalf of the voluntary health movement.

The National Rural Health Association is a national nonprofit membership organization with more than 15,000 members that provides leadership on rural health issues. The association’s mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of rural Americans and to provide leadership on rural health issues through advocacy, communications, education, research and leadership.

The Health Professions and Nursing Education Coalition (HPNEC) is an informal alliance of more than 70 organizations representing a variety of schools, programs, health professionals and students dedicated to educating professional health personnel. Together, the members of HPNEC advocate for adequate and continued support for the health professions and nursing education programs authorized under Titles VII and VIII of the Public Health Service Act.

Additionally, ACOFP is an active member in the Partnership for Primary Care Workforce. This coalition envisions a health care system where all people have an advocate who understands their health needs and promotes their wellness – providing and coordinating care and providing linkages to other necessary health professionals and services. The coalition also envisions all people having regular access to an ally in the health care system – be it one individual or a team of health professionals – where one can go for high-quality primary care, including answers to questions and concerns, support, and integration of all aspects of health care.

For additional information regarding ACOFP advocacy, legislative, and coalition activity please contact Ray Quintero, ACOFP Director of Government Relations.