News in brief - Jan. 12, 2009

Survey rates Medicare contractors

Roughly 30,000 doctors, hospitals, suppliers and others that participate in Medicare will receive a survey asking them to rate their contractors.

In December 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced it was sending out the 2009 survey, the fourth year in a row it has done so. The randomly selected recipients will rate Medicare administrative contractors on a scale of 1 ("not at all satisfied") to 6 ("completely satisfied") based on performance on functions as provider inquiries, claims processing and enrollment.

The average 2008 score was 4.51. CMS said contactors' performance on provider inquiries was the top indicator of overall satisfaction scores.

CMS plans to release the 2009 results in July. More information about the survey is available online (www.cms.hhs.gov/mcpss).

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FPs seek more training funds

The American Academy of Family Physicians on Dec. 24, 2008, called on Congress and President-elect Barack Obama to invest $215 million in economic stimulus spending on grants for medical training programs.

If the advice is followed, the money would go toward section 747 of Title VII, part of the Public Health Services Act. The AAFP also called for $115 million for the National Health Service Corps, which provides scholarships and loan repayments to health professionals who work in medically underserved areas.

"The high debt burden many medical graduates face may influence career choices, deterring some from practicing in underserved areas, starting a career in medical education or research, or entering primary care medicine," said Jim King, MD, chair of the academy's board.

Federal funding for Section 747 of Title VII has decreased from $92.4 million in fiscal 2003 to $48 million in 2008, the AAFP said.

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