It is so important that the state of Ohio does its part to provide an adequate support of family physicians who meet population health needs, improve health outcomes, and lower health costs. As deliberations of the state budget begins, ask your state representative to support funding the Family Medicine Line (235-519) in the Department of Higher Education budget at least at the level provided for in the executive budget if not at an increased amount.
Use the American Academy of Family Physicians’ SpeakOut website to send your message. The process is quick and easy—contact your state representative today!
Family physicians are on the front lines of health care delivery. We are the physicians in the urban and rural trenches providing the high quality, cost effective care essential to keeping Ohio’s workforce healthy and productive. Research studies show that in markets where family and primary care physicians provide the majority of care, patients are healthier and costs are lower. States that rely more on primary care than specialty care for the treatment of patients with chronic illnesses have lower health care spending and better quality outcomes. Investing in the education of family physicians is a sound investment for Ohio.
- The Family Medicine Line provides much-needed funding to help educate and produce family physicians – family physicians that provide patients with a personal medical home and high quality, cost effective care.
- The Family Medicine Line helps train family physicians who locate in areas with need; family physicians tend to distribute themselves to areas of greatest need (rural, inner city areas) in larger numbers than do physicians in other specialties.
- The Family Medicine Line helps produce family physicians who emphasize disease prevention and health maintenance in addition to treating illness (decreasing health care costs by preventing and correcting health issues early before they are more serious and expensive to treat).
- The Family Medicine Line helps train the family physicians who Medicare and Medicaid patients rely upon for their care.