Posted on 03.08.10 by Executive Vice President Susan Hogeland, CAE

The great big helium-filled balloon that was health care reform as presented by then-AAFP President Ted Epperly, MD may have deflated a little over the past year, but delegates, alternates and others at CAFP's 2010 Congress of Delegates were more than ready to continue to fight after hearing a practical analysis of the legislation's chances from now-AAFP President, Lori Heim, MD. 

The 80 or more family physicians, residents and students at the meeting in Sacramento may be battle-scarred, and more than a little weary, nonetheless, they're still looking for the reform "pony in the manure" in both Sacramento and Washington, DC.  They're still willing to work hard to convince their legislators that reform is worth the political risk and that ignoring primary and preventive care has to stop sometime; now is a good time.

Dr. Heim updated the Congress on health care reform's possible form following a tumultuous political year, with some strange and surprising twists and turns.  She also reported on the recent machinations in the US Senate that resulted in holding back the anticipated 21.2 percent cut in Medicare payment to physicians necessitated by the Sustained Growth Rate rule - but only until March 31. 

The attendees also heard Dr. Heim present a further legislative update in collaboration with CAFP Legislative Advocate Tom Riley, as well as additional presentations by Drs. Carla Kakutani, Bo Greaves and Walt Mills on the realities of implementing the Patient Centered Medical Home and by staffer Sandy Newman, MPH on health information technology and meaningful use draft regulations.  Two alternate delegates were tapped to act as "reporters" on behalf of the Congress on each of these Town Hall sessions to suggest what might be of use in as the Academy works to implement its 2010-12 strategic plan. 

Eight resolutions were adopted by the Delegates who came, saw and debated - and made Academy policy on issues ranging from the calling on AAFP to rescind its contract with The Coca Cola Company for support of its patient-facing Web site, to the single-payer health plan pending in the California State Senate to help for family medicine residency programs whose accreditation is threatened and patients lose continuity of care when they lose Medi-Cal managed care contracts because of the cost of providing full service care to needy patients.  A complete listing of the resolutions, as passed by the Congress, will be up on our Web site shortly.

Following the conclusion of the Congress, we were treated to a talk by Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) which put everyone in the mood for the legislative and media training sessions that followed.  The piece de resistance took place Monday morning, when nearly 30 family physicians in all types of practice spent the morning being further briefed on CAFP's key issues (the BUDGET, Patient Centered Medical Home and vaccines legislation) before going to the Capitol to meet with their legislators.  It was a very full weekend. 

Lots of good things came out of the meeting - new officers were elected and sworn in (they take office officially on May 14 at the Annual Scientific Assembly); students and residents and many new delegates and alternates saw CAFP policymaking in action.  Then they observed policymaking in action as CAFP positions on legislation, the budget, etc. was translated into:  what this means to you and your patients and how you should talk about these issues with your legislators and the media.  Telling the tale of family medicine and the impact of pending draconian cuts on real people makes a difference.

The Congress of Delegates is THE place to get the training and information needed to turn you into a skilled advocate for family medicine and your patients.  We are developing a cadre of such individuals to make the greatest impact possible on elected officials at the state and federal levels. 

How about you, next year?