Government Relations

View IAFP's Power Point presentation that outlines family medicine and primary care's vital role in public health outcomes. You can also learn more about the many ways Illinois Academy of Family Physicians is contributing to better health and health care policies in our state. Click here for the Power Point.

IAFP partners with Dept. of Insurance to review health insurance denials and rescissions
IAFP members will review insurance company rescissions currently awaiting DOI action to determine if the insurance company was justified in their actions. IAFP’s volunteer physicians will provide expert review to enhance the Department’s ability to serve Illinois consumers and provide consult as the Department implements the health insurance reforms of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Link to the press release from the State of Illinois website http://illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=2&RecNum=8562

05/11/2010 – IAFP submits testimony in support of the 2010 Illinois State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP). Read our testimony here.

Oppose HB 6065/SB 3822 - which would allow for any employed school staff member (laypeople) to administer diabetes care management plans in schools. Click here

Mid-Level Practitioner Memo regarding schedule II controlled substances Click here

2/26/2010 – IAFP provides testimony to IDPH on reducing and preventing obesity. Click here

IAFP calls on the General Assembly to renew the Medical Practice Act for 10 years Click here

2/4/10 IAFP statement on the IL Supreme Court ruling on medical malpractice caps. Click here

HB3923 signed into law with new insurance reforms for Illinois. IAFP Patrick Tranmer attended the bill signing on January 5^th in Chicago. Read press release

New state law provides Medicare patients with additional Part D Rx assistance. Click here to get complete information.

Illinois Psychiatric Society Sample Rx for 90 day supplies of Schedule II drugs. With HB 488 in effect, physicians may now prescribe schedule II drugs in 90 day supplies in one patient visit. View sample prescriptions here.

Concerned about possible controlled substance abuse? Illinois has an online prescription monitoring program allowing licensed prescribers and dispensers of controlled substances to view a Prescription Information Library (PIL) for current and prospective patients only. click here for more information.

Statement opposing managed care for Medicaid - given to Senate Budget Deficit Reduction Committee click here for statement

IAFP Supports HB71 to ban text messaging while driving Click here to read statement.

Learn more about Illinois Health Connect - Medicaid's Primary Care Case Management Program

IAFP Supports SB 44 - $1 increase in the State Cigarette Excise Tax to reduce smoking rates and raise revenue for paying Medicaid providers.Click here to read more

AAFP offers Tobacco Cessation resources for patients online Go to www.askandact.org for resources you can use to help your patients kick the habit. Materials include posters, patient education materials, provider toolkits and information on reimbursement.

07/27/2010 - IAFP member Matt Winkleman, MD of Harrisburg joins AAFP president-elect Roland Goertz, MD to testify before Congress on the HITECH Act. Read his testimony here.

IAFP urges Congress to extend enhanced FMAP rate. Read our letter to all 21 members of Congress from Illinois.

Federal Issues – IAFP members lobby Congress for health care improvements (read more and view photos)
Although the health care reform package (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) has already passed, there are many unresolved issues that our members addressed with the Illinois Congressional delegation. Here are the top three issues that IAFP discussed with lawmakers on Wednesday, May 12. If these issues are important to you, take the time to call, write or meet with your Congressman to reinforce the family medicine messages below.

IAFP Members speak up in the AMA’s Virtual Town Hall: Family physicians help the AMA answer patient’s questions about the health care reform proposals in two YouTube videos:

IAFP President Javette Orgain, MD spoke at a press conference on 8/2/09 with US Sen. Dick Durbin calling for meaningful, fair health care reform to fix our health care crisis.

Opinion-Editorial from IAFP President Javette C. Orgain, MD on federal health care reform click here

IAFP submits written statement to a federal public listening session on Comparative Effectiveness Research held in Chicago Read statement here

Jerry Kruse, MD of Quincy testified before a U.S. House subcommittee in support of increased funding for primary care training and primary care research on March 18. Read his testimony.

Medicare

IAFP Letter to Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Regarding proposed Medicare 2010 free schedule : Read letter

See how the next round of projected Medicare payment cuts will effect IL Read More

IAFP joined US Senator Dick Durbin for press conference on Saturday, July 12, 2008 calling on President Bush to sign HR 6331, replacing the Medicare 10.6% cut with small positive updates through 2009. Read release Click here for photo

Medicare update - Read IAFPs statement on Senate Medicare vote click here

Click here to view Academy in Action video
AUDIO CLIPS - How will the Medicare cuts affect specific communities here in Illinois?

For policy studies on primary care and family medicine, plus fascinating one-pagers to share with decision makers and colleagues, the AAFP's Robert Graham Policy Center is one stop shopping. Go to http://www.graham-center.org/

Contact Your Legislator - AAFP's Speak Out Service can help contact your state and federal legislators. Click here to find out topics of concern and how to contact your legislators. Watch a YouTube video made by a FP that shows you how to use Speak Out click here.

Become an IAFP Key Contact - - We need a family physician in every legislative district ready to answer the call and speak up for family medicine to support or stop a bill in Springfield . For more information and a sign up form, click here.

AAFP Policy page - Hop onto the American Academy of Family Physicians' Policy page and find even more information relating to family practice and government relations. Find out what is happening in Washington DC.

Illinois General Assembly - Use this improved site to track specific bills and committee hearings, find your legislator, even make your own "personal list" of legislation to track throughout the session.