Increasing reimbursement for primary care physicians

This week, Senator Baucus, Senate Finance Chair, called for greater primary care and prevention efforts especially with regard to increased reimbursement for primary care physicians. Baucus issued a 98-page blueprint that will hopefully lead health care reform in the new Congress.

Excerpts from AAFP article:

"My plan would put more primary care doctors in practice," said Baucus. "Watching over a patient's full medical history and keeping them healthier all of their lives … that is a quality measure and a cost-control measure."

AAFP President Ted Epperly, M.D., of Boise, Idaho, said the Baucus proposal recognizes that a strong and robust primary care system must be an essential part of any successful health care reform effort. "Family physicians and the patient-centered medical home are the basic building blocks of this health care foundation," Epperly said.

Baucus said increased payments for primary care physicians may require a shift in resources, resulting in reduced payments to subspecialists. "There might have to be a bit of a readjustment," he said. "Some of these (sub)specialists might have to take a bit of a nick, but the (sub)specialists know the system is not working well. They know primary care doctors need more help individually. They also know, more fundamentally, that by giving more emphasis to primary care doctors, it is going to help the whole system."

"Payments for primary care physician visits are undervalued, particularly compared to procedures and services furnished by (sub)specialists," the document says. "In fact, the overvaluation of procedures in the Medicare physician fee schedule has both created financial incentives to provide unnecessary services and served as a disincentive for physicians to become primary care physicians."

To see the full senate proposal, click here.