NCAFP Sends Letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and Micky Tripathi, Ph.D., MPP, ONC National Coordinator, on Comprehensive Prior Authorization Reform

The NCAFP sent a letter on March 24, 2022, to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra and ONC National Coordinator, Micky Tripathi, Ph.D., MPP in response to the request for information, Electronic Prior Authorization Standards, Implementation Specifications, and Certification Criteria as requested by the January 24, 2022, Federal Register. The letter outlines the impact on patients and physicians.

Please read the letter here:

March 2022 HHS Prior Authorization Letter

The AAFP also sent a letter to the same recipients on March 22, 2022, “to increase oversight of prior authorization, reduce the volume of prior authorizations, increase transparency of prior authorization requirements and streamline prior authorization processes.” You can read AAFP's press release with links to the letter here. 

 

NCAFP Board Issues Statement on Masking in Schools (August 11, 2021)

Given the surge in COVID-19 cases due to the Delta variant, the NCAFP Board of Directors has issued an open letter to school officials across  North Carolina asking them to utilize masking and facial coverings to safely start the new school year.   Given the prevalence of the Delta variant and the lack of an available vaccine for younger children, the letter calls on school systems to put the health and well-being of children first and require masking as students return to school. You can download a PDF copy of the letter by clicking below:

• NCAFP Open Letter on the Importance of Masking in Schools in Light of Delta Variant of COVID-19  
• Additional Resources on the Importance of Masking

National Academies of Science, Engineering and Medicine Recommend Increased Investment in Primary Care

Tuesday, May 4, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued a report calling for access to high-quality primary care for every American.  The report is titled: “Implementing High Quality Primary Care: Rebuilding the Foundation of Health Care.”  AAFP applauded the release of the new report which calls for every individual to have the opportunity to have a consistent source of primary care.  Among other things, the report states that “a strong foundation of primary care is critical to the health system. Yet visits to primary care clinicians are declining, the workforce pipeline is shrinking, and many practices have struggled to remain open. Primary care is the only part of health care where an increased supply is associated with better population health and more equitable outcomes. For this reason, the report emphasizes that primary care should be a common good, made available to all individuals in the U.S., promoted by responsible public policy, and supported with the resources to achieve health equity.”  The report goes on to say that “the strength and quality of primary care need to be a public priority.” To meet the goals of the report, the committee recommended several actions:

• A shift from Fee for Service payment models to hybrid models (part capitated, part fee for service), in which clinicians are rewarded for better outcomes and pay per patient rather than per visit.  AAFP has long called for this type of payment model.
• Additional community-based training programs. Noting that training primary care in inpatient settings will not adequately prepare the workforce to deliver high-quality care.
• Efforts to make health information technology more user-friendly for both clinicians and patients.
• An increase in access points including investment in new health centers, particularly in areas that are underserved.

While you can find a copy of the press release that AAFP published on the report below, please continue to look for additional information from NCAFP and AAFP in the coming days and weeks.

AAFP Press Release on NASEM Primary Care Report

NCAFP Advocacy

The NCAFP works aggressively to advance health policy that improves and strengthens the specialty of family medicine and primary health care in North Carolina. The Academy is a leading voice in many state health initiatives and actively engaged in helping impact NC's delivery system.

Advocacy One-Pagers

The Value of Family Medicine

The Scope of Family Medicine.pdf

The Family Medicine Workforce Pipeline

Advocacy Archive

NCAFP Statement on Discrimination and Health Disparities
June 8, 2020

On Tuesday, June 9, the NCAFP Released the Following Statement on Discrimination and Health Disparities
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If Not Now, When? Rebuilding Our Primary Care and Public Health Infrastructure
April 20, 2020

Appeared in Charlotte Observer and Raleigh News & Observer on April 20, 2020
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