American Academy of Family Physicians

Case study: NY health plan, group test 'medical home' model

Fri, 23 May 2008 06:59:54 -0400

While there's much discussion of the "medical home" model at industry meet-ups, few health plans have gotten to the point where they're actually putting their money where their mouth is. Albany, NY-based Capital District Physicians Health Plan (CDPHP), however, has decided to make a commitment to the medical home approach.

The regional health plan has put aside $1 million to mount a pilot program testing out its theory that a medical home approach can make practices more efficient, improve outcomes, raise doctor and patient satisfaction and cut costs.The plan includes three medical practices--Latham Medical, Community Care Schodack and Capital Care Family Practice--that will begin offering the program in January 2009. To build the it, CDPHP is working with TransforMED, an affiliate of the American Academy of Family Physicians that just completed a major study of medical homes. TransforMED will begin helping the practices prepare for the transition this month.

What makes the CDPHP program unusual not only is the care model, which stresses team care lead by a physician, but also the fact that physicians are compensated differently than they have been in the past, including pay for phone calls and paperwork. Not only that, physicians' pay service fees would be based on a risk-adjusted model based on a patient's condition, with additional pay for good outcomes and strong patient satisfaction.

To learn more about the CDPHP program:
- read this piece from The Business Review of Albany

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Groups come together on MD performance reporting

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:59:58 -0400

Measuring performance is one of the toughest nuts the healthcare industry has to crack. But this time, some important stakeholders have at least come together to handle the problem as a team. Groups backing the new Patient Charter for Physician Performance Measurement, Reporting and Tiering Programs include the American Medical Association, American Academy of Family Physicians, the AARP, American College of Physicians, America's Health Insurance Plans, the Leapfrog Group, AFL-CIO, National Business Coalition on Health and health insurers Aetna, Cigna, UnitedHealth Group and WellPoint.

The Charter creates a set of shared principles that will structure measuring and reporting on doctor performance. It urges health plans to develop consistent performance measurements on cost and quality, adopt National Quality Forum standards; use transparent methods for creating programs and give physicians a chance to participate and, if they desire, appeal their scores.

To learn more about the project:
- read this Modern Healthcare piece (reg. req.)
- visit the group's website

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Primary care shortage blocks healthcare reform

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 07:59:58 -0400

By the year 2020, the nation will need 140,000 family physicians--a 40 percent increase over what was needed two years ago--according to the American Academy of Family Physician's 2006 Physician Workforce Report. So what's the big deal? The Wall Street Journal's Dr. Benjamin Brewer argues that with the number of new family doctors decreasing in recent years, this issue needs to be addressed before the country can even begin to consider universal healthcare. "To me, universal coverage looks like an empty promise," Brewer says. "Just nationalizing health insurance by declaring Medicare for all isn't going to get the job done."

To learn more about universal and primary healthcare:
- read Dr. Brewer's column in The Wall Street Journal
- check out the AAFP's 2006 Physician Workforce Report (.pdf)