• Legislative and Regulatory Activities

    The goals of the American Academy of Family Physicians' (AAFP) legislative and regulatory activities are built on the desire to serve as patient advocates and to promote family medicine.

    The Commission on Federal and State Policy actively works on legislative and regulatory issues of importance to its members, their patients and their communities, analyzes proposed laws and regulations and recommends AAFP policy for Board consideration. Specific legislative proposals that affect family physicians undergo systematic review by AAFP staff.

    Communications with legislators and officials regarding the AAFP's viewpoint, should be arranged and orchestrated by AAFP officers, commission members, chapter representatives, and AAFP staff. In addition to addressing federal issues, the AAFP , through its Center for State Policy, monitors state legislative activities and provides resources and legislative support to AAFP chapters as appropriate.

    The AAFP's legislative and regulatory goals are best achieved through Board, commission, and member involvement with support from AAFP staff.  The AAFP's national and state legislative efforts are best achieved when a family physician acts as AAFP spokesperson. Furthermore, the AAFP supports legislative and regulatory activities that are based on evidence-based health care. (1975) (October 2023 BC)