Letters Extra: Hoping for a bureaucratic miracle

The Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians champions health reform policies that provide all Pennsylvanians access to affordable, quality care.

As negotiations proceed between the Corbett administration and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, we hope for a quick resolution so Pennsylvania's thousands of lower-income uninsured residents can receive coverage.

The Affordable Care Act has been a mixed bag for many patients. Our physicians and staff work hard to help answer patients' questions, ensuring those who purchased plans on HealthCare.gov fully understand their options. We're all wrestling with the changes—no one should feel alone.

We are confident that Pennsylvania's family physicians are ready to treat newly covered patients upon Medicaid expansion. Pennsylvania enjoys one of the nation's highest population-to-physician ratios; our 2013 member survey found 90 percent of practices accepting new patients, with 62 percent participating in Medicaid.

As the leading proponent of the patient-centered medical home (PCMH) model—which emphasizes coordinated care, prevention, and a team-based approach—we are seeing better care and outcomes. Our goal is to ensure every Pennsylvanian has that medical home.

Douglas Spotts, M.D., president, Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians, Lewisburg