Source: American Academy of Family Physicians Washington, DC, Office
On December 8, six frontline physician organizations, (the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association, and the American Psychiatric Association), sent a set of principles to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services urging consideration of recommendations, before approving Section 1115 demonstration waivers.
The Joint Principles for Section 1115 Waivers affirm that state waivers must maintain and/or strengthen affordability protections, benefits, and access to any qualified provider. Additionally, waivers must preserve and enhance existing funding mechanisms, sustain and strengthen waiver transparency, stakeholder engagement, and evaluation, and waivers cannot limit barriers to eligibility and coverage. The AAFP has also joined a Waiver Task Force to better share information related to these waiver proposals. As of September 2017, there are 21 state waiver requests pending with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.