Legislative Policy Agenda

 2013-14 WAFP Legislative Policy Agenda

1. Improve the Delivery of Patient Care
   • Continue educating policymakers on the quality benefits and cost-savings of Patient Centered Medical Homes.
   • Harmonize Wisconsin's mental health laws so providers can appropriately access the electronic medical records of patients with mental health issues.
   • Support actions to preserve critical health care benefits for the state's most vulnerable citizens.
   • Oppose legislation eroding the physician scope of practice or expanding the non-physician scope of practice at the expense of patient health and safety.
     
     
2. Strengthen the Physician Workforce
   • Create a service-based, Tuition Assistance program to encourage additional primary care physicians to practice in underserved areas of the state, providing critical care for our rural and underserved populations.
   • Support budget initiatives increasing state funding for primary care medicine and family practice residency programs, especially in high-need areas.
   • Support the creation of the Medical College of Wisconsin's Community Medical Education Program, which will educate and train 50 new students per year in rural areas.
   • Support the proposed expansion of the UW School of Medicine & Public Health's Wisconsin Academy of Rural Medicine (WARM) and Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health (TRIUMPH) programs, providing addition educational opportunities in underserved areas of the state.
     
     
3. Improve the Medical Liability Climate
   • Support legislation improving the state's medical liability environment, such as legislation to ensure the state's informed consent law does not result in expensive and medically unnecessary practices in defensive medicine.
   • Support legislation to protect physicians who express their condolences and apologies to the loved ones of patients who experience unintended, or unfortunate, medical outcomes.

download printable WAFP Policy Agenda