�The California Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP) announced a programme to put up loans to members hurt the negative economic personal effects of the 10% Medi-Cal cut in payments to physicians that took effect July 1.
"We are providing a lifeline to family physicians who other than may be forced to turn away Medi-Cal patients or tied shut down their practices entirely," aforesaid CAFP President Jeffrey Luther, MD. "The State of California's Medi-Cal payments to physicians are the last-place in the nation. This underpayment threatens the creation of crime syndicate medicine practices across the state."
Concerned that their patients will have nowhere else to get the health upkeep they pauperization, family physicians are committed to service indigent and disabled patients whose maintenance is paying for under the Medi-Cal program. "Our compassion has carried us this far," Luther aforesaid, "but the State is paying less than it costs us to supply care. Family physicians simply can't afford to proceed subsidizing patient care out of our own pockets."
California already is in the thick of a primary attention physician famine as fewer medical students choose family medicine and other primary care specialties. Underpayment is one of the primary deterrents to young physicians. "The Governor and our legislators are escalating the primary upkeep physician famine crisis by refusing to adequately pay the very doctors world Health Organization keep Californians healthy," Luther explained. "Family physicians put up preventive care and wield chronic illnesses like heart disease and diabetes. When patients can't find a doctor to care for them, they delay seeking care or they twist to emergency rooms where care is more expensive and a framework for essential persistence of care does not exist."
The Academy's Board of Directors has constituted a $100,000 fund and is offering $7,500-$10,000 emergency single loans to assist physicians grappling with the Medi-Cal payment cuts. Available to family physicians for whom Medi-Cal patients comprise at least one-third of their practice, the loans ar available immediately.
"It's a sad day for health care when a medical specialty fellowship is gainful for health care that's actually the State's province to provide," Luther aforementioned. "We call on the Governor and the Legislature to pass a state budget that allows Californians access to essential wellness care, and we call on our elected leaders to continue their put to work on comprehensive health care reform."
Basics of the California Academy of Family Physicians Emergency Loan Program
Applicants must meet these criteria and complete the following documents:
- Active CAFP member;
- More than 33 percent Medi-Cal patients in the practice;
- Loan application, with tax ID and Medi-Cal provider number;
- Signed promissory agreement.
Description of the pinch loans:
- $7,500-$10,000 per member, sometime only;
- Repayment deadline of December 31, 2008;
- 3 pct interest/loan fee to cover CAFP treatment and processing;
- Loan payable in entireness by 31 December 2008 unless by prior arrangement; approval may be granted for an extension of 3-6 months.
For more information and an application form, physicians can bring down http://www.FamilyDocs.org or contact Susan Hogeland or Shelly Rodrigues at 415/345-8667 or shogeland@familydocs.org or srodrigues@familydocs.org.
About the California Academy of Family Physicians
With more than 7,000 members, including practicing family physicians, residents in kinsperson medicine, and medical students interested in the long suit, CAFP is the largest primary care medical high society in California. Family physicians are trained to treat an entire family's medical needs, addressing the whole spectrum of life's medical challenges. FPs serve a broad nucleotide of patients in urban, suburban and rural areas, often in California's most underserved areas.
California Academy of Family Physicians
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