former “Friend of Family Medicine” award winner to retire PAFP’s top legislative priorities: prior authorization reform; CRNP independent practice; physician credentialing reform; buprenorphine medically assisted treatment

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

PAFP’s top legislative priorities: prior authorization reform; CRNP independent practice; physician credentialing reform; buprenorphine medically assisted treatment

PRIOR AUTHORIZATION REFORM

Prior authorizations have become significantly burdensome to family physicians, and more importantly result in delays and jeopardized quality care to patients. The PAFP supports reforms that would maximize electronic communications for authorizations as well as adverse determinations, and define consistent response times for authorizations, rejections, appeals, and external utilization review. Rep. Steve Mentzer (R-Lancaster) has introduced House Bill 1194, which has strong bipartisan support. The legislation has been referred to the House Insurance Committee. In the Senate, Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill (R-York) has introduced Senate Bill 920, which has been referred to the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

NURSE PRACTITIONER INDEPENDENCE

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are integral, valuable members of the health care team, held in the highest regard by family physicians. However,

patients are best served when a physician-led, highly coordinated health care team provides care. Therefore, the PAFP opposes legislation that would expand their scope of practice and eliminate collaborative agreements. The Senate passed Senate Bill 25, sponsored by Sen. Camera Bartolotta (R-Washington) in June 2019. Rep. Jesse Topper (R-Bedford) has introduced House Bill 100. Both bills await consideration in the House Professional Licensure Committee.

HEALTH INSURER CREDENTIALING REFORM

Delays in credentialing of new physicians or existing physicians changing practices create undue hardships, most notably on the communities they serve. The PAFP supports legislation that would standardize the credentialing form and set processing standards. Rep. Clint Owlett (R-Tioga) has introduced House Bill 533 seeking to codify significant reforms. The bill passed the House of Representatives in November 2019 and awaits consideration in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

BUPRENORPHINE MEDICALLY ASSISTED TREATMENT (MAT) ACT

Access to care for patients suffering from substance abuse disorder is critical, and state regulation could significantly jeopardize access to office-based opioid treatment (OBOT). The PAFP opposes legislation that would require prescribers of buprenorphine to be licensed by the state and pay any state licensing fee. Sen. Michele Brooks (R-Mercer) has introduced Senate Bill 675, which passed the Senate in June 2019. The bill awaits consideration in the House Human Services Committee, which held a public hearing on the issue last fall. The PAFP is working with the Committee and stakeholders to find a compromise that will address the concerns of bill proponents without creating additional barriers to MAT prescribing.

THE PENNSYLVANIA ACADEMY OF FAMILY PHYSICIANS

Together we can do more. PAFP-PAC is the official political action committee of Family Medicine in Pennsylvania. Through individual contributions, PAFP-PAC supports candidates for the state legislature who demonstrate an interest in issues impacting family physicians. By contributing to PAFP-PAC, you join your colleagues in creating a stronger voice for Family Physicians in Harrisburg. In today’s environment, PACs are an important part of the political process and a necessary advocacy tool.

The Latest Health Care News... Everyday.

The Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians’ PAFP Connect app is available now for download on iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android (Samsung Galaxy, Google Nexus, Motorola Moto X, Amazon Kindle Fire)

Scouring the latest headlines from reputable media sources across the globe, PAFP Connect brings you the most relevant, up-to-date news and information that affects your practice and your patients. At 1 p.m. daily, PAFP Connect posts the Afternoon Family Medicine news digest – headlines that take a deeper look at family medicine in the U.S., covering all the angles so that you can head into the rest of the day with a deeper understanding of the forces that impact you.

Afternoon Family Medicine puts the news into context, telling you what it means and why you should care. In addition to collaborative groups, information, a schedule of events, and links to other PAFP resources like Keystone Physician, Afternoon Family Medicine is one more reason to log on to PAFP Connect daily.

Available Now! Downloading the app is easy! Just search for PAFP Connect on your iPhone’s app store to get started. Alternatively, click on the icon for the app store that matches your device.

PAFP Connect was built in-house exclusively for PAFP members. To access the mobile app you will need to know your AAFP member ID number. For login assistance, email Michael Zigmund, PAFP’s Chief Communication Officer

The Latest Health Care News... Everyday.

app is available now for download on iOS (iPhone, iPad) and Android (Samsung Galaxy, Google Nexus, Motorola Moto X, Amazon Kindle Fire) devices!