New Caucus Forms to Champion Primary Care on Capitol Hill

Primary care is about to get a louder voice on Capitol Hill with the launch of a new congressional caucus, and the AAFP is calling on members to encourage their legislators to join. 

The bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Primary Care, with Reps. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., and David Rouzer, R-N.C., serving as co-chairs, will promote primary care interests among lawmakers.

A formal launch of the caucus on Oct. 8 will coincide with a briefing titled "The Impact of Primary Care on Rural and Urban Underserved Communities." Family physician Robert "Chuck" Rich Jr., M.D., of Bladenboro, N.C., and Andrew Bazemore, M.D., director of the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care, will join Courtney and Rouzer as speakers at the event on Capitol Hill.

The caucus will promote important work, Rouzer and Courtney said in a video(video.house.gov) announcing the formation of the caucus.

"Primary care providers will play an increasingly important role in shifting our health care system to reward better quality and lower cost," said Courtney.