N.C. Academy of Family Physicians Launches "Our NC Health Care" Petition Campaign in Response to Proposed Medicaid Reform | Eastern North Carolina Now

For Immediate Release:

    RALEIGH, N.C.     This week, the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians (NCAFP) launched a public awareness and petition campaign called "Our NC Health Care." The campaign is designed to encourage state leaders and lawmakers to include North Carolina physicians in the Medicaid reform process. NCAFP is concerned about the state's current speed and approach to Medicaid reform, which includes outsourcing Medicaid administration to managed care companies. Campaign activities will focus on the OurNCHealthCare.com Web site, and will be driven by NCAFP member engagement, social media, and targeted media messages that will air across the state.

    The Academy asserts that the recently presented Medicaid reform proposal will affect the quality of health care for all North Carolinians, not just Medicaid recipients. They also point out that North Carolina has one of the best Medicaid primary care programs in the United States--a program they say would be abandoned with the adoption of outside managed care. The goal of the "Our NC Health Care" campaign is to mobilize voters to sign a petition notifying their legislators that they want physicians to be included in Medicaid reform discussions and policy decisions.

    Gregory K. Griggs, executive vice president of NCAFP (http://www.ncafp.com), explained the Academy's position with regard to the current Medicaid proposal, "Our physicians agree that Medicaid reform is needed. What we are concerned about is the lack of physician involvement to provide adequate input in these reform discussions." Griggs also shared concerns about what he perceivesis an accelerated timeline for change, "I've never thought effective reform should be measured by a stopwatch. This is too important and could affect the health care of all our citizens."

    According to Griggs, "What our members are asking for is simply this: we would like a place at the table for these most critical reform discussions, and to make sure we are not rushing into bad decisions that could have devastating consequences on health care for all North Carolinians. There are some very smart people within DHHS, within the General Assembly and within our medical community. We look forward to joining with them to build on what's working, focus on cost containment, and ensure quality health care for all citizens."

    "Our Medicaid program is not without flaws, but we should build on what is working and fix what is not," said Shannon Dowler, M.D., chief medical officer of Blue Ridge Community Health Services in Hendersonville, N.C. and president of NC Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Dowler elaborated on her concerns saying, "This approach will dismantle a nationally recognized model for care delivery that is working very well. I don't believe the answer to improving Medicaid is to turn the care of 1.5 million North Carolinians over to managed care companies. We've tried that before, and it did not work. What has worked is the partnership of physicians and North Carolina's hospitals to coordinate care in their own communities through patient-centered medical homes."


   CONTACT:
    Gregory K. Griggs, MPA, CAE
    Executive Vice President, N.C. Academy of Family Physicians
     (919) 417-6692 cell, (919) 833-2110 office  •  ggriggs@ncafp.com