We want to provide family physicians across Minnesota with the tools and resources to reach out to legislators, the media and your communities about how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting family medicine and primary care. Use the following talking points, story/messaging tips and additional resources.
WHAT IS THE ASK?
The Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians urges policy makers, health systems and payers across Minnesota to take the necessary steps to preserve, build and advocate for a strong primary care infrastructure, especially now during the COVID-19 pandemic. We seek a value-based delivery and reimbursement model, which recognizes the importance of chronic care management, preventive care and wellness care. During the COVID-19 pandemic, primary care practices should be provided a prospective fee to care for patients to avoid worsening the situation on the frontlines.
WHAT ARE THE KEY POINTS?
- Flaws in our fee-for-service-based healthcare system are being amplified under the weight of the COVID-19 pandemic. The current system rewards provision of more services vs. efforts to prevent patients from getting sick in the first place—overvaluing procedures and interventions and undervaluing management of chronic conditions, prevention and wellness care.
- Investment in continuity primary care will help keep patients as healthy as possible and out of emergency rooms and hospitals.
- We need to continue to deliver high quality, cost-saving primary and emergency care during the COVID-19 pandemic, and that cannot be done without the proper financial infrastructure and support for our front line healthcare workers and clinics.
WHAT’S YOUR STORY?
Stories change hearts and minds. Share your experiences and frustrations. Put your patients at the center.
- Share how you/your clinic/your community have been impacted by COVID-19 preparations and/or restrictions.
- Tell how you have stayed connected with your patients.
- Share what healthcare issues you have seen exacerbated by this new reality.
How might you share this message? Telling your story to your local newspaper through a letter to the editor is a great way to start. Make sure you start the story with your main point and then develop by sharing your experiences and/or ideas (what’s the problem, what’s the solution). Most newspapers will have a word-count maximum, so be mindful of the length and keep your text short and sweet.
ADDITIONAL ARTICLES/RESOURCES ON PRIMARY CARE INVESTMENT
- Primary Care Marshall Plan
- Primary Care Investment (MAFP blog post)
- Support for Primary Care More Important Than Ever (MAFP blog post)
- COVID-19 and the Impact on Primary Care (Speak Out email tool)
WANT HELP?
Need help accessing our resources or getting started on advocacy? Have a story to share that we can help amplify?
Email Jami Burbidge, MAM, our director of advocacy and engagement.
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Author: Jami Burbidge, MAM, MAFP Director of Advocacy & Engagement, @jami_burbidge