On November 6, Senator Angus King (I-ME) introduced the Primary Care Patient Protection Act in the Senate. The American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) applauds the Senate introduction of this legislation that was also introduced earlier this year in the House. If enacted, the Primary Care Patient Protection Act would ensure that individuals with a high deductible health plan (HDHP) would have access to two primary care visits with neither cost sharing nor a deductible.
In a statement of support, AAFP President Gary LeRoy, MD, of Dayton, OH, said the legislation “takes the financial fear away from Americans who seek care from their primary care physicians.”
As the cost of health care coverage rises, more Americans are seeking HDHPs as a means of securing more affordable coverage. According to a recent national poll conducted by The Los Angeles Times and the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than four in 10 workers enrolled in a HDHP don’t have enough savings to cover the deductible. And one in six Americans who have an HDHP report having to make “difficult sacrifices” to be able to pay for health care.
The Primary Care Patient Protection Act promotes continuity of care by ensuring that individuals can visit with their primary care physicians, independent of cost-sharing requirements. Tell Congress to support this important legislation by using Speak Out! today!