Medical Economics Editor Richard Payerchin and Steven P. Furr, MD, FAAFP, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, discuss proposed cuts in the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, the AAFP’s work on increasing the number of physicians in rural areas, and even a bit about Furr’s own family medicine practice in Alabama.

Check out our previous episodes featuring interviews with Alex Ashbrook of FRAC; Joseph Betancourt, MD, president of the Commonwealth Fund; and U.S. Rep. Earl L. 'Buddy' Carter.

Music Credit: Emotional Cinematic Piano by Elonix - stock.adobe.com

Timestamps

Introduction to the Episode (00:00:00)
Overview of the podcast and introduction of the guests discussing family physician challenges.

Medicare Fee Schedule Cuts (00:01:10)
Discussion on the 2.8% cut in physician reimbursement and its implications.

Impact on Practices (00:02:21)
Concerns about the sustainability of practices due to ongoing Medicare cuts.

Advocacy Efforts (00:02:26)
Efforts made by AAFP to inform Congress about the effects of physician cuts.

Importance of G2211 Code (00:03:12)
Significance of the G2211 code for increasing family physician reimbursement.

Congress and Medicare Economic Index (00:04:02)
Discussion on whether reimbursement should be based on the Medicare Economic Index.

Site Neutral Payments (00:05:13)
Effects of site neutral payments on family physicians and practice sustainability.

Consolidation in Healthcare (00:05:59)
Concerns regarding physician consolidation and its impact on patient care.

Non-Compete Agreements (00:06:54)
Discussion on the implications of non-compete clauses for family practices.

Cybersecurity in Healthcare (00:07:25)
Impact of the Change Healthcare cyberattack and recovery efforts in practices.

Practice Structure (00:09:06)
Overview of Dr. For's practice structure and its resilience to cyber threats.

Cybersecurity Measures (00:09:45)
Importance of cybersecurity measures and employee education in practices.

Obesity Treatment (00:10:50)
Discussion on new treatments for obesity and their implications for patient care.

Pharmaceutical Pricing Concerns (00:11:59)
Concerns regarding high pharmaceutical prices and their impact on patient equity.

New Physician Residencies (00:12:50)
Status and importance of new physician residencies in rural communities.

Closing Thoughts (00:13:36)
Final thoughts on the urgent need for Medicare reimbursement reform and its impact on healthcare.