What Has STFM Been Advocating For?The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine advocates for family medicine education. This year, STFM has been focusing on: Rural GME: STFM has worked with legislators to create a bill that addresses the impact of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) policy on rotations and hospital caps, the ability to receive reimbursement for training at Critical Access Hospitals, the growth of Rural Training Tracks, and alternate payment for residents who train in rural areas. Veterans Administration GME: STFM has been advocating for changes to the Veterans Administration’s implementation of the 1,500 GME slots included in the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act. The aim was to improve uptake by family medicine, especially in rural areas, by allowing payment for training “off the VA linoleum.” Teaching Health Center Reauthorization: Teaching Health Center Program funding more than doubled this year, thanks to the efforts of a coalition of primary care organizations. STFM’s goal was to reauthorize the program at high enough funding levels to allow for a per resident amount of $150,000 and succeeded. Title VII: STFM staff work every year to ensure there are no cuts to Title VII funding and advocate for increases. Title VII received a $10 million increase in funding in the 2018 fiscal year. AHRQ: The advocacy goal for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is to maintain the agency, prevent cuts, and increase spending. The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 provided an increase in funding for AHRQ of $10 million. This was the first time since 2010 that the agency received an increase. Preceptor Expansion Initiative: CMS changed its transmittal notice to allow for the use of student documentation for billing purposes, without redocumentation by the teaching physician. This was a combined effort of the STFM advocacy staff the initiative's
Tactic Team 1. STFM Welcomes New Resident RepresentativeAlexandra Gits, MD, has been elected the next resident representative to the STFM Board of Directors. Dr Gits is a third-year resident at the North Memorial Family Medicine Residency Program in Minneapolis, MN. Her leadership term begins September 1. CERA Seeks Survey Director for General Membership SurveysThe CAFM Educational Research Alliance (CERA) is now accepting applications for a survey director for the CAFM General Membership Survey. The director for the General Membership Survey, who serves a 2-year term, will oversee approximately one survey per year. Blog PostInspiring, Career Informing, and Irreplaceable"Taking on the role of resident representative and Graduate Medical Education Committee member allowed me the insight and voice to advance the breadth and impact of our specialty," writes outgoing STFM Resident Representative Isabel Chen, MD. Reviewers Needed for 2019 STFM Annual Spring Conference SubmissionsThe STFM Program Committee is seeking volunteer reviewers for the 2019 STFM Annual Spring Conference submissions. As a volunteer reviewer, you can expect to review 25-30 submissions (3-4 hours of work). Reviews will begin by Friday, September 14 and must be completed by Monday, October 22. If interested, contact Ray Rosetta by September 5. Member KudosCongratulations to José E. Rodríguez, MD, who has been appointed interim Associate Vice President for Health Equity and Inclusion at the University of Utah. Have an announcement for Member Kudos? Email Sarah. In MemoriamThomas Nicholas, MD, longtime STFM member and past president of the Association of Departments of Family Medicine, passed away on July 30. After serving in the Air Force during WWII, Dr Nicholas completed his medical degree and worked for 25 years as a family doctor in Wyoming. He then moved to Missouri to serve as director of the division of education at the American Academy of Family Physicians and later accepted a teaching appointment at the UMKC School of Medicine, where he helped establish a family medicine residency program. EventsAugust 29: October 4: DeadlinesAugust 17: Nominations for the F. Marian Bishop Leadership Award are due August 30: Applications are due for the CERA Survey Director August 31: Applications for Leading Change Institute Faculty are due September 10: Submissions due for the Annual Spring Conference
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