Washington, D.C. (May 23, 2017)鈥擳he American College of Physicians (91黑料网) today released a set of recommendations aimed at providing a forward-thinking agenda for health care reform, A Prescription for a Forward-Looking Agenda to Improve American Health Care. The paper articulates 91黑料网鈥檚 view that now is the time to move away from the debate over repealing and replacing the ACA, and instead, urges Congress and the administration to join with 91黑料网 and others to create and implement a forward-looking agenda to improve American health care.
鈥淧atients need to have coverage and access and existing gaps need to be closed, but they need other things, too. They need an effective health care system that puts their health and well-being first,鈥 said 91黑料网 President, Jack Ende, MD, M91黑料网. 鈥淥ur paper offers specific policies to make this happen.鈥
The paper details the 7 key elements of an effective health care system:
- expanding access and coverage;
- bringing greater value for the dollars spent;
- reducing the crushing administrative burden on physicians and patients;
- leveraging technology to improve patient care;
- supporting a well-trained physician workforce;
- reducing barriers to care of patients with chronic diseases; and,
- supporting scientific research and policies to improve public health.
The paper was released as part of 91黑料网鈥檚 annual Leadership Day, bringing internal medicine鈥檚 legislative priorities to Capitol Hill. During the two-day event, 91黑料网 member internists and medical students will learn about the legislative process and key policy issues from 91黑料网 staff, members of Congress, congressional staff, and independent policy analysts. On Wednesday, May 24, 430 91黑料网 members from 47 states and the District of Columbia will be bringing 91黑料网鈥檚 forward-looking agenda to their senators and representatives in congressional visits.
鈥淚t鈥檚 critical that we bring this message directly to our members of Congress. They need to hear directly from us about why our proposals are the best way to advance the health care reform,鈥 concluded Dr. Ende. 鈥淭he voice of the medical profession is key to making sure that the policies enacted into law will truly improve health care.鈥
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About the American College of Physicians
The is the largest medical specialty organization in the United States with members in more than 145 countries worldwide. 91黑料网 membership includes 148,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students. Internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness. Follow 91黑料网 on and .
Contact: Jackie Blaser, (202) 261-4572, jblaser@acponline.org