Answer to Jean - skinning cats

[Guest guest]

Thanks for staying on private sector advocacy. You've helped us reform AAFP (...gasp), but the job isn't finished.

The rest of you: go to AAFP's homepage under Policies and Advocacy to Private Sector Advocacy and click on

email discussion group. We're all solo or small group. PSA was set up during the early days of the 35 group

- that little band of rebels Earl Carstensen MD, Koman MD, and I co-founded in late 2004.

you and Annie know what we've done... Earl and colleagues passed Colorado's standard form contracts last year - first ever anywhere. Their lame duck governor vetoed it, but they have a new governor now. Before AAFP's 2005 annual session, 15 political novices in 14 state academies passed 3

similar resolutions and sent them up to AAFP

where they became policy.The first resolution created the Clearinghouse. All of you, go 'grade your payers' so your opinions will be included in April's Family Practice Management

.. The second resolution changed policy to " It is unacceptable

for health plans not to reimburse according to CPT. " Some MCOs are coming around after AAFP's strong letters. We helped

stop Ohio's Anthem in its tracks when they introduced 'blended codes', thanks to Annie's quick catch.

The third resolution directed AAFP to advocate more aggressively

for the private sector. Thanks, for saying how important it is to work together. We will just stay stuck with our heads in the sand if we don't. I think we're going to work on getting state academies attuned to the private sector this year and possibly try standard form contracts in a few states.Cheers,Shirley Pigott MD23 years soloTexasOn 12/17/06,

<JAntonucci@...

> wrote:

It has become clear to me over the last three yrs that the main functionof these list servs is venting .Sometimes also good effective ideas areshared or an individual is inspired by another's work to take on

something. I have remained on private sector because Shirley asked me to. It largelyclutters my email Some of you have your emails deleted before being openedOthers I learn from and enjoyThat stated is the crux also of why health care will not change. A house

divided falls. Not wanting to write or publish removes a tool that over time makeschanges. So would not wanting to be involved in politics And other things Ihave wrestled with myself, Physicians a r e moslty doomed becasue of their inability to grassroots

organize and make changeI remain delightfully on the @...

listserveand invite many of you there. We cannot insist change BE MADE we must

be willing to do " things: " we dont wnat: to publish, agree with each other dropinsurance and others, to MAKE the change- we must be respectful of each other in some model that unites us

agianst a common enemy Enemey may be a strong word but it is usefulIf wrangling in the civil rights movement, in Ghandi's corps etc had beengreater than the vision then the casues would have been lost Eyes on t he

prize.guys Eyes on t he prize --not on each other.I will soon post my 2 yr report I have signed on to only on e insurancecopany I am doing just fine. I see people the day they call. I track mychronic diseaseas I see people on time and they see me and only me I take

medicaid as i can a fford and participate in medicare. details to follow ina bit