This month, AID teamed up with the Practicing Physicians of America, a grassroots coalition of physician organizations, to compose a pro-doctor white paper that has begun to circulate on Capitol Hill.
Dr. Marion Mass, a pediatrician from Pennsylvania, and Dr. Vicki Wooll, a family practice physician from Idaho, wrote the initial draft, derived from a presentation Dr. Wooll gave in Washington last November.
Among other issues, the paper reveals the harmful effects that the Safe Harbor Act of 1987 has had on our health-care system. The law, which the authors would like repealed, essentially makes it legal for group purchasing organizations and pharmacy benefit managers to receive kickbacks from drug companies and medical suppliers. These pay-to-play arrangements not only lead to billions of unnecessary dollars being spent on health-care, but also to critical drug shortages.
The paper highlights other abuses occurring in the pharmaceutical industry as well as the negative impact that third-party payor intrusion and electronic health records are having on the practice of medicine.
AID Executive Director Marni Jameson Carey edited and reorganized the document into four distinct sections, and added a section on health-care consolidation and the need for site neutrality. The joint effort closes with legislative asks, which will be the topic of health policy meetings the three authors will be attending on Capitol Hill next week.
"PPA has an extensive social media reach and an active presence in Washington. That coupled with AID's nationwide network and reputation for championing independent doctors makes for a formidable combination," said Dr. Mass.
All three authors are members of the National Physicians Council for Health Policy, which is meeting next week in Washington DC, where Carey will speak on the topic of site neutrality.
Please read and share this white paper with your colleagues and lawmakers
