American Academy of Family Physicians
"Health Care for All" Proposal |
Plan Status“Health Care for All” approved October, 3, 2007, by AAFP Congress.Number of People CoveredAll people residing within US borders.
Estimated Cost$47.5 billion per year.
Payment Scheme Current insurance market (with employer-based plans, individually purchased insurance, health savings accounts, copayments, and government-funded programs), along with funding derived via taxes. Payment levels would be determined using a resource-based relative value system. |
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Plan in Brief
- The AAFP represents 93,000 family physicians and medical students.
- All Americans would be eligible for basic care with no copayment.
- Other health services paid on a fee-for-service basis and subject to copayments and deductibles.
- Based largely on patient-centered medical home concept.
- Retains current insurance market.
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Impact on Federal Government
- Taxes would support the system.
- A public/private oversight board would determine and monitor the basic coverage level.
Impact on States
Impact on Insurers
- The current insurer market would be retained.
Impact on Providers
- AAFP believes that primary care-based health systems result in improved outcomes at less cost.
- Practices that qualify as “medical homes” would receive payment to compensate for the related time, infrastructure, and administration.
Impact on Employers
- Employer-based insurance systems would remain in place.
Impact on Individuals
- Individuals can purchase insurance.
- Supports Health Savings Accounts.
- Basic coverage would be available for no copayment.
- Protects against extraordinary medical costs.
Proponents/Opponents
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Proponents of the patient-centered medical home include many physicians and policy analysts. The concept, they say, is the key to providing efficient and high-quality primary and preventive care and controlling health care costs.
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The costs of implementing and maintaining the patient-centered medical home concept—a concept that will require new health information technologies--are unknown but are cause for concern. Critics also question the ability to ensure that this type of care is available to all patients.
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Notable Feature
- The AAFP has called for “fundamental reform” of the U.S. health care system since the 1980s.
- The AAFP created the Center for Health Information Technology.
- The Lewin Group estimates that $15.5 billion of the overall cost of the plan would be offset by savings yielded by better care coordination, reduced administration fees, and prevention efforts.
Experts' Comments“The AAFP plan centers on the principle that everyone in the United States should have a patient-centered medical home, preferably from a family physician. America's health care system must have primary care as its foundation, and the patient-centered medical home must be its basic building block."
-- Rick Kellerman
AAFP President, M.D.
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For Further Information
Health Care for All Fact Sheet
AAFP-Led Coalition Urges Health System Reform
Residents, Students Wrestle with Health Reform
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Interest Groups 
