From clinics to Capitol Hill: Family physicians advocate for change

By Rebecca King
Senior Strategist, State Affairs and Member Advocacy

On Tuesday morning, family physicians from across the country fanned out across Capitol Hill carrying congressional briefing folders, talking points and a shared purpose.

Some were seasoned advocates who have met with lawmakers for years. Others were students and residents participating in their very first congressional meetings. A few admitted they were nervous.

By the end of the day, those nerves had turned into confidence.

That’s the power of the Family Medicine Advocacy Summit (FMAS).

This week, a record-breaking 353 family physicians, residents and students from more than 40 states and the District of Columbia gathered in Washington, D.C., to learn, connect and advocate for policies that strengthen primary care and improve patient care. After two days of training, inspiration and strategy, they took family medicine’s message directly to Congress.

And that message was clear: Family physicians need policymakers to remove unnecessary barriers that stand between patients and the care they need.

As attendees prepared for their Capitol Hill meetings, Amy Zhou, senior policy advisor to U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, MD, reminded them why their voices matter.

“I can’t tell you guys enough how much your voice on the Hill means.”

Throughout the summit, attendees heard a consistent message from lawmakers, congressional staff and advocacy experts: Family physicians are among the most trusted and effective voices in health policy. They bring real-world experience, firsthand patient stories and practice solutions to the conversations taking place in Washington.

Three priorities brought family physicians to FMAS

1. Reducing Medicare Advantage barriers to care

Family physicians urged lawmakers to support reforms that would improve accountability and oversight of Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Too often, prior authorization requirements and inappropriate denials delay medically necessary care and interfere with clinical decision-making.

The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act (H.R. 8375/S. 4384) would help address these challenges by establishing stronger safeguards for patients and physicians, including faster prior authorization decisions and greater transparency. Specifically, the legislation would require MA plans to:

2. Strengthening the primary care workforce by lifting recently imposed visa barriers

Family physicians also highlighted the enormous role international medical graduates (IMGs) play in caring for patients, particularly in rural and underserved communities. A newly imposed $100,000 H1-B visa fee threatens to create additional barriers for hospitals, health centers and physician practices already struggling to recruit physicians.

Family physicians called on lawmakers to support the H-1Bs for Physicians and Healthcare Workforce Act (H.R. 7961), which would help preserve access to care in communities that need it most.

3. Expanding access to chronic care management

For many Medicare beneficiaries living with multiple chronic conditions, even modest out-of-pocket costs can discourage participation in services designed to keep them healthy.

Despite evidence that these services improve outcomes and lower overall Medicare spending, participation remains low because many patients cannot afford the required cost-sharing.

Although Medicare spends about $95 less each month for every patient who receives chronic care management (CCM) services, only 4% of eligible patients sign up for CCM. Why? Because a mandated co-pay of about $13 is out of reach for many seniors who face decisions to make fixed incomes cover rising expenses.

The Chronic Care Management Improvement Act (H.R. 8261) would remove cost-sharing requirements for chronic care management services.

More than a policy conference

While Capitol Hill meetings are the culmination of FMAS, they are only part of the experience.

Over three days, attendees heard from policy experts, advocacy leaders, congressional staff and national thought leaders. AAFP members learned practical strategies for telling their stories, building relationships with lawmakers and turning their expertise into action.

One of the most memorable conversations came during a main-stage discussion between AAFP EVP and CEO Shawn Martin, and Luis Padilla, MD, chief health officer for the National Association of Community Health Centers, about the Triple Double initiative and the future of primary care.

Attendees also heard political analysis from Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of Inside Elections, and received encouragement from U.S. Sen. Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, who reminded participants that their advocacy extends far beyond their own exam rooms.

But some of the most meaningful moments happened between sessions.

In hallways, over coffee and during state meetups, students connected with mentors. Residents exchanged ideas with chapter leaders. Longtime advocates welcomed first-time attendees into the family medicine advocacy community.

FMAS also showcased the growing impact of AAFP’s Advocacy Ambassador program. More than 200 Advocacy Ambassadors attended the summit, and 47 members signed up for the program during the event.

Advocacy Ambassadors serve as family medicine’s grassroots advocacy network, engaging with lawmakers year-round through district meetings, Speak Out campaigns, storytelling opportunities and relationship-building with elected officials. Their presence at FMAS was a powerful reminder that advocacy is not confined to a single event or a single trip to Washington.

I spoke with two first-year residents from California who were attending FMAS for the first time. Like many newcomers, they arrived eager to learn and unsure what to expect. By the end of the summit, they were preparing to meet with congressional offices and talking about how they planned to stay involved in advocacy long after returning home.

Those conversations captured what makes FMAS special. It is not only about influencing policy today. It is about developing the next generation of physician advocates who will shape the future of family medicine for years to come.

The work doesn’t end in Washington

One of the most important messages attendees heard throughout FMAS was that effective advocacy doesn’t require a plane ticket to Washington.

While the summit provides a unique opportunity to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill, some of the most impactful advocacy happens back home.

In the coming months, family physicians will have an opportunity to build on the momentum from FMAS through the AAFP’s August Recess Advocacy Campaign. During the congressional recess, lawmakers return to their districts and states, creating valuable opportunities for family physicians to meet with elected officials in their communities, host practice site visits and share firsthand stories about the challenges facing patients and primary care.

Many FMAS attendees will continue that work through the Advocacy Ambassador program, which equips family physicians, residents and students with tools and opportunities to stay engaged year-round. Whether participating in a Speak Out campaign, sharing a patient story, inviting a legislator to visit a practice or attending a district meeting, Advocacy Ambassadors help ensure family medicine’s voice is heard long after FMAS concludes.

These local conversations are often just as important as meetings on Capitol Hill because they help policymakers see firsthand how federal decisions affect the communities they represent.

Throughout the summit, attendees heard a simple but powerful message: Lawmaker want to hear from family physicians.

The conversations that began in Washington this week are important. But the real measure of success will be what happens next, when family physicians return home and continue building relationships with the policymakers who represent their communities.

Advocacy is not a three-day event.

It’s a year-round commitment to ensuring patients have access to the care they need and family physicians have the support they need to provide it.

This week, family physicians brought that voice to Washington.

Now it’s time to keep the conversation going.