AfPA - The Alliance for Patient Access

The AfPA continually monitors and responds to national and regional policy issues that have the potential to influence patient access to treatments and care. We will frequently post articles and announcements here on policy issues and developments to keep you informed and to notify you when action is needed.

Therapeutic Substitution

• Time for a Physician-Patient Relationship Preservation Act, by David Charles, M.D., Providence Journal, February 27, 2010
• "Doctor's orders may not be followed at pharmacy," WTAE-TV Pittsburgh, November 20, 2009
• Washington State mandates therapeutic substitution, KIRO-TV, April 1, 2009 (note: large file)
• AfPA letter to Congress supporting Pathway for Biosimilars Act, March 25, 2009
• "Doctors, patients upset as insurers push them to use cheaper drugs," South Florida Sun Sentinel, November 29, 2008
• "Get serious on smoking; TennCare needs program of medication, therapy," by David Charles, M.D., The Tennessean, November 9, 2008
• "AMA: Switching Patients' Medication without Their Consent Is Unethical," MedicationSense.com
• "An Urgent Message to Health Insurers From a California Doctor: In Medicine, One Size Does Not Fit All," by Richard Allen Williams M.D., October 1, 2008
• "Waging Health Battles by Fax," Wall Street Journal column, October 1, 2008
• "A Family Doctor Rails Against Insurance Pre-Authorization," Wall Street Journal blog, October 1, 2008
• "Beware of legislation that would allow untested copies of biologic drugs," by David Charles, M.D., August 31, 2008
• Letter to the editor from David Charles, M.D. in response to "Doctors Paid to Prescribe Generic Pills," Wall Street Journal, January 24, 2008

Evidence-Based Medicine

• "Put patients before price," by Jack Schim, M.D., Riverside (Calif.) Press-Enterprise, January 3, 2009
  
• AfPA Position Statement on the Principles of Evidence-Based Medical Policy Making
• Low Osmolar Contrast Media Case Study

Comparative Effectiveness

• "Mammography guidelines intensify health care reform debate," Medpage Today, November 23, 2009
• "Health care storms brews; Critics fear plan to rank treatment may hurt elderly, be a move toward nationalized care," The Tennessean, February 14, 2009
• "Senate CER provision a step forward for patients," PIPC statement, January 27, 2009
• AfPA letter to Congress on comparative effectiveness funding in H.R. 598, January 27, 2009
• Letter from concerned groups on comparative effectiveness funding in H.R. 598, January 26, 2009
• "Congress must stay out of the doctor's office," by Howard Hoffberg, M.D., Prince George's Sentinel, November 6, 2008
• "A Look Ahead: the 2009 U.S. Health Legislative Agenda," McDermott newsletter, October 14, 2008
• "A physician's take on budget-driven health care," by Peter McAllister, M.D., Manchester, Conn. Journal-Inquirer, May 23, 2008
• "Penny-pinching on medicine has a price," by Bruce S. Rubin, Tampa Tribune, April 29, 2008
• "Don't risk personalized care," by Peter McAllister, M.D., Scranton Times-Tribune, April 28, 2008
• "Congress tampering with doctor-patient relationship," by David Charles, M.D., The Tennessean, February 10, 2008

Pay-for-Performance

• "Why 'Quality' Care Is Dangerous; The growing number of rigid protocols meant to guide doctors have perverse consequences," Wall Street Journal commentary by Jerome Groopman and Pamela Hartzband, April 8, 2009
• "Not What the Doctor Ordered?" WXYZ (Detroit), March 17, 2009. View Part 1 and Part 2.
• "Alliance for Patient Access Applauds AMA’s Heath Insurer Code of Conduct," AfPA press release, November 14, 2008
• Mark Nielsen, M.D. discusses the impact of pay-for-performance physician compensation models on patient access and physician autonomy on "The Mary Hanson Show."

Marketing Restrictions

• "It's Time to Fight the 'PharmaScolds'," Wall Street Journal commentary by David A. Shaywitz and Thomas P. Stossel, April 8, 2009
• "Proposed Limits Jeopardize Patient Care," by Peter McAllister, M.D., Connecticut Post, March 20, 2009
• "Firms win victory on doctor gift rules; draft doesn't seek research funds data," Boston Globe, December 6, 2008
• "Study Sees Doctor Shortage," Boston Herald, October 6, 2008
• "Drug companies can be helpful," by Peter McAllister, M.D., Rutland, Vt. Herald, August 9, 2008
• "Disclosing Physicians' Gifts: Analysis, Articles, and an Interview," an interview with Dr. David Charles on "A Chronic Dose" blog, August 8, 2008
• AfPA Position Statement on Massachusetts Gift Ban Legislation, May 2008
• "The Facts About Pharmaceutical Marketing and Promotion," April 2008

Preemption

• "Pre-empting Drug Innovation; So Much for the 'pro-business' court," Wall Street Journal, March 5, 2009
• "Healthcare Leaders Watching Supreme Court Case," Louisiana Medical News, January 2009
• "Lawyers open new front: warning labels," by Peter McAllister, M.D., Providence Journal, December 3, 2008
• "Legal Side Effects; Can companies be sued even if they follow FDA instructions?" Wall Street Journal, November 4, 2008