AAP PRESIDENT APPOINTED TO MEDICAID COMMISSION

Washington, DC---Carol Berkowitz, MD, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), has been appointed by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt to serve on a Medicaid Advisory Commission. The commission is charged with developing short- and long-term recommendations to reform Medicaid, the largest provider of health care to children.

"My job on this commission is to be a voice for the 27 million children who receive health care coverage through Medicaid and for the pediatricians who treat them," Dr. Berkowitz said. "We need to change Medicaid in a way that helps all patients get the quality health care they need and while at the same time making it fiscally viable for providers to participate."

Congress voted this spring to cut Medicaid spending by $10 billion over the next 5 years. The commission will offer ways to achieve those cuts. The AAP has already shared specific Medicaid recommendations with Congress, in the hopes of protecting child coverage and services. AAP recommendations include:

• Maintaining the Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program, which guarantees preventive care to children.
  
• Prohibiting cost sharing on all Medicaid benefits for children, particularly preventive services.
  
• Reimbursing physicians appropriately for the care they provide children under the Medicaid program.
  
• Enhancing quality and controlling costs in the overall health care system.
  
• Improving access to home- and community-based care.
  
• Improving chronic care management.

The commission's first report is due to Secretary Leavitt on Sept. 1, 2005, with a second report due Dec. 31, 2006.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.