Carrie Nelson, MD opens the Smoke Free Illinois celebration at Poag Mahone's in Chicago

IAFP kicked off the new year and joined with many other organizations and legislative champions in public celebrations of the 5^th anniversary of the Smoke Free Illinois Act.  On Jan. 2, President Carrie E. Nelson, MD of Wheaton lead the Chicago press conference to thank Senate President John Cullerton, lead Senate sponsor Sen. Terry Link of Waukegan and the House sponsor, former state Rep. Karen Yarbrough who now serves as Cook County Recorder of Deeds.  The party moved to Springfield on Thursday where IAFP Deputy Executive Vice President of External Affairs Gordana Krkic, CAE presided over the press conference at the Statehouse.  The events included announcing poll results from a December statewide survey showing strong support for the smoke-free law across Illinois and across party lines.  The law was favored by 77 percent of Illinoisans statewide and 53 percent of smokers.  Since the law took effect, adult smoking rates have dropped, calls to the Illinois Quitline have skyrocketed and lives have been saved.  Be sure to dine out and let your favorite establishments know how much you value the smoke-free environment!

The Medicare payment extension, which was passed as part of a larger budget deal between Congress and the White House, prevents a 26.5 percent reduction in the Medicare physician payment rate that was scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1 as a result of the SGR. It also delays for two months implementation of the Budget Control Act's (BCA's) sequestration provision, which calls for a 2 percent cut in the Medicare physician payment rate and an additional 8 percent cut in discretionary funding for vital medical education programs. The sequestration cuts were scheduled to take effect on Jan. 2. Link to AAFP News Now for more information.