News
Opioid Epidemic: Congress Takes a Swing, Passes Bipartisan Legislative Package
By Sarah Martinez, CAFP Policy & Advocacy Intern In October, the U.S. Senate passed the final version of H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act. This act is a bipartisan bill package that aims to combat the opioid crisis. The President signed the bill
CAFP Celebrates 70 Years
2018 marks 70 years of the Colorado Academy of Family Physicians. The CAFP began in 1948 as the Colorado Academy of General Practice, just one year after the formation of the American Academy of General Practice. The past 70 years have brought challenge, opportunity, and change to family medicine in Colorado and beyond. To commemorate
October is Family Health Month in Colorado
As proclaimed by Governor Hickenlooper, October 2018 is Family Health Month in Colorado. Each year the state proclaims October as Family Health Month in recognition of family medicine’s work on behalf of patients and valuable role in the health care system. The CAFP continues to have a strong presence at the Colorado Legislature, and the
New Youth Marijuana Prevention Program Developed by CAFP Prepares to Launch
Colorado voters legalized the use of recreational marijuana on November 6, 2012. In the almost six years since, policy makers and citizens alike have been carefully watching to see what consequences might arise. Most seem to agree the “great experiment” has been a mix of successes and failures. One issue of high priority to family
New Leadership Program Trains Primary Care Providers to Advocate for Good
Turn on the TV, go online, pick up a newspaper, it’s not hard to see that healthcare and health policy are hot and contentious topics. The endless debate can leave healthcare providers wondering: how can I possibly make a difference? How can we add the voice of experience and reason to all the noise? Primary
Payment Reform for Primary Care: Where does the CAFP’s Primary Care Investment Strategy fit in?
By Stephanie Gold, MD The Primary Care Investment Strategy The CAFP is pursuing a Primary Care Investment Strategy (PCIS) with the aims of: 1) accurately measuring how much is being spent on primary care in Colorado 2) increasing spending on primary care to a target of 15% of total health care spending 3) requiring increasing
Primary Care is Undervalued. What Now?
By Michael J. Pramenko, MD Stop the press. Public and private payers take note. Primary Care in the United States is undervalued. Surely, and sarcastically speaking, primary care providers are shocked by this news. In medicine and public policy, we like to believe that we follow the evidence and let facts guide the implementation of
What is the Value of a Patient Centered Medical Home?
Primary Care Spending: A sample of current research and state policies
by Gina Carr, MD Despite the knowledge that societies with a better primary care orientation have better outcomes as well as increased efficiency and better perceptions of patient experience of care, we are not yet routinely incentivizing primary care providers (PCPs) and services. Why is the societal value of reduced mortality rates, reduced rates of