2021 Congress of Delegates Postponed
The in-person meeting of the 2021 Congress of Delegates that was planned for Sept. 27-29 is being postponed, but delegates will still elect the AAFP president-elect, speaker, vice speaker and directors during a virtual special session next month.
AAFP News : Inside the Academy
https://www.aafp.org/news/inside-aafp/20210805codpostponed.html
FPs Share Breadth of Family Medicine in Mainstage Event
Four family physicians shared personal stories that highlighted different roles in the specialty July 30 during the National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students.
AAFP News : CME
https://www.aafp.org/news/education-professional-development/20210804nc-careers.html
Delegates Elect New Student, Resident Leaders
Delegates elected peers to represent them during the recent National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students.
AAFP News : CME
https://www.aafp.org/news/education-professional-development/20210803nc-elections.html
Avoiding a Telehealth Cliff
Robust virtual care, a byproduct of the public health emergency, is already in jeopardy. AAFP Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Stephanie Quinn writes in the In the Trenches blog that the AAFP is pushing for thoughtful solutions.
AAFP News : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20210803itt-telehealth.html
Sports and Medical Organizations Encourage COVID-19 Vaccine Conversations be Part of ...
Sports and Medical Organizations Encourage COVID-19 Vaccine Conversations be Part of all Sports Physicals
AAFP News : Media Center
https://www.aafp.org/news/media-center/statements/covid-vaccine-sports-physicals.html
Minority FPs Benefit From Practicing in Diverse Communities
A study that examined the intersection of physician race/ethnicity and measures of burnout found that family physicians from racial and ethnic groups underrepresented in medicine were less likely than their non-underrepresented peers to report emotional exhaustion and depersonalization.
AAFP News : Practice and Career
https://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20210730annfammeddiversefps.html
AAFP Supports Recent COVID-19 Safety Guidance From CDC
AAFP Supports Recent COVID-19 Safety Guidance From CDC
AAFP News : Media Center
https://www.aafp.org/news/media-center/statements/aafp-supports-covid-safety-guidance.html
CDC Recommends Masks in Schools, COVID-19 Hot Spots
The CDC, in response to increased circulation of the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, updated its guidance to recommend use of masks in schools, as well as in other indoor locations in areas with substantial COVID-19 transmission rates, regardless of vaccination status.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20210729covidmasks.html
Budget Neutrality Undercuts Payment in 2022 Proposed MPFS
An AAFP summary of CMS’ proposed rule for the 2022 Medicare physician fee schedule centers on a conversion factor change, and the Academy is calling on Congress to act.
AAFP News : Advocacy and Government
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20210728mpfs.html
AAFP, Other Groups Tout Bill to Strengthen ACOs, APMs
The AAFP has joined more than a dozen other medical professional and health care organizations in praising a House bill that aims to bolster Medicare’s alternative payment models and accountable care organizations and ensure their ongoing success.
AAFP News : Advocacy and Government
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20210728valuehealthcareact.html
AAFP Joins Push to Immunize Health Workers Against COVID-19
The AAFP and more than 50 other medical groups on July 26 urged every health care and long-term care employer to require workers to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
AAFP News : Practice and Career
https://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20210728covidvacc.html
Interest in Nutrition Spurred FP to Research Path
Family physician Lauren Ciszak, M.D., turned her longstanding interest in nutrition into a clinical research project that could improve patients’ physical and emotional well-being.
AAFP News : Family Doc Focus
https://www.aafp.org/news/family-doc-focus/20210726fdf-ciszak.html
Joint Statement in Support of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for All Workers in Health and ...
Joint Statement in Support of COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates for All Workers in Health and Long-Term Care
AAFP News : Media Center
https://www.aafp.org/news/media-center/statements/covid-vaccine-mandates.html
What We’re Telling Congress To Do About Medical School Debt
AAFP Senior Vice President of Advocacy, Practice Advancement and Policy Stephanie Quinn writes in the In the Trenches Blog that the AAFP recently reminded lawmakers how forgiving medical school debt is an achievable way to strengthen the physician workforce and improve health equity.
AAFP News : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20210723itt-debt.html
DPC and COVID: Looking Back as We Move Forward
The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t over, but as we ease back into the pre-pandemic rhythm of working, seeing family and cautiously exploring public spaces, it seems only natural to take a step back and reflect on what the past year and a half have brought us. In this Fresh Perspectives blog ...
AAFP News : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20210722fp-dpccovid.html
CME Aims to Boost Immunization Rates in Black Communities
The AAFP, through a cooperative agreement with the CDC, has unveiled a comprehensive CME program designed to increase adult immunization rates among African American patients.
AAFP News : CME
https://www.aafp.org/news/education-professional-development/20210722immcme.html
AAFP COVID-19 CME Webinar Series On Demand
Watch AAFP’s CME webinar series on COVID-19 anytime, anywhere on demand. Get the latest clinical topic updates and perspectives with the ongoing pandemic crisis.
CME : All CME Products
https://www.aafp.org/cme/all/covid-19/webinar-series-on-demand.html
Closing the Gaps on Health Disparities
FMX speaker Andrea Westby, M.D., is challenging race-based clinical practices and working to diversify the family medicine workforce.
AAFP News : Family Doc Focus
https://www.aafp.org/news/family-doc-focus/20210720fdf-westby.html
New CME Helps Family Physicians Fight Imposter Syndrome
A new, member-exclusive CME activity on overcoming imposter syndrome aims to support family physicians who are underrepresented in medicine.
AAFP News : CME
https://www.aafp.org/news/education-professional-development/20210719impostercme.html
New Clinical Guidance Page Highlights Academy COPD Resources
The AAFP has created a COPD clinical guidance webpage that features a new guideline from the Academy on pharmacologic management of COPD exacerbations.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20210716copd.html
AAFP Resources Explore Administrative Simplification
Visit the AAFP’s newly launched Administrative Simplification webpage for a look at how the Academy is working to cut administrative burden. It’s a battle that’s being fought on multiple fronts, and this new resource highlights many of those efforts.
AAFP News : Practice and Career
https://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20210716adminsimp.html
LGBTQ+ Patient Care Online CME | AAFP
Explore issues affecting LGBTQ+ community and earn 6.5 CME credits. Topics: peripartum care, health inequalities for LGBTQ+ youth, and HIV prevention.
CME : All CME Products
https://www.aafp.org/cme/all/lgbtq-plus-patient-care.html
Nominations Open for Wonca North America Presidency
Family physicians who are interested in global health issues and have strong leadership skills may apply through Aug. 6 for consideration as the next regional president for the North America Region of the World Organization of Family Doctors.
AAFP News : Inside the Academy
https://www.aafp.org/news/inside-aafp/20210715woncanorthamerica.html
AAFP Notches Multiple Advocacy Wins for IMGs
The AAFP has scored a number of victories on behalf of international medical graduates, who account for more than 20 percent of the family physician workforce.
AAFP News : Advocacy and Government
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20210714imgadvocacy.html
FP Essentials #506 Heart Failure | July 2021 | AAFP
FP Essentials is a monthly monograph focused on family medicine clinical topics. This edition on heart failure includes topics on preserved or reduced ejection fraction, right-sided heart failure, and advanced refractory heart failure.
CME | FP Essentials : Subscriptions
https://www.aafp.org/cme/subscriptions/fp-essentials/editions/506-ed.html
Administrative Simplification
Family physicians can learn how the AAFP advocates for and works to increase administrative simplification so that physicians can increase time spent caring for patients and find greater joy in practice.
Membership : Key Initiatives
https://www.aafp.org/membership/initiatives/administrative-simplification.html
Payment Program Aims to Boost Health Center OUD Treatment
A new program from the Health Resources and Services Administration will compensate certain facilities that employ family physicians and other clinicians who have recently obtained a buprenorphine waiver.
AAFP News : Practice and Career
https://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20210713hrsawaiver.html
Time to Report on CARES Act’s Provider Relief Fund Payments
Physicians who received payments through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act’s Provider Relief Fund that exceeded $10,000 total from April 10-June 30, 2020, are required to report on the use of those funds during the current reporting period between now and Sept. 30, ...
AAFP News : Advocacy and Government
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20210713prfreporting.html
Rush Mentor Aims to Bolster Primary Care Pipeline
Carl Lambert Jr., M.D., said it was a blessing to find a Black male family physician role model during medical school. Now he aims to fill that mentoring role for others.
AAFP News : Family Doc Focus
https://www.aafp.org/news/family-doc-focus/20210712fdf-lambert.html
Members-only E/M Guidelines Webinar Recording Now Online
AAFP members who weren’t able to view last month’s live webinar, Demystifying the 2021 Office Visit E/M Guidelines, can now access a recorded version of the event.
AAFP News : Practice and Career
https://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20210712e-mresourceupdts.html
Family Medicine Groups Join Call for Another Virtual Match
The AAFP and other family medicine organizations have issued recommendations for the 2021-22 Match cycle, including direction regarding virtual interviews, and the Academy has several resources to assist in the process.
AAFP News : CME
https://www.aafp.org/news/education-professional-development/20210709match2022.html
AAFP-PT Orders for 2022 Now Being Accepted
If you’re one of the majority of family physicians who have chosen to streamline the care you offer patients by performing many of your own laboratory tests using AAFP Proficiency Testing, you should know that you can now access the program’s 2022 specimen catalog and order forms.
AAFP News : Practice and Career
https://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20210708aafp-pt2022.html
Tar Wars Campaign Releases Updated Resources
The AAFP has updated the Tar Wars campaign Presentation and Program Guide tools, giving participants cutting-edge resources to educate school-aged children about the harms of tobacco use.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20210707tarwars.html
Family Medicine RapSDI Program 2021 Scholars Announced
Following a lengthy application process, the Family Medicine Discovers Rapid Cycle Scientific Discovery and Innovation initiative has selected two RapSDI scholars for 2021.
AAFP News : Inside the Academy
https://www.aafp.org/news/inside-aafp/20210707rapsdi.html
Direct Primary Care Was the Change She Needed
DPC Summit speaker Jennifer Harader says changing to direct primary care increased her scope of practice, improved her work-life balance and saved her career.
AAFP News : Family Doc Focus
https://www.aafp.org/news/family-doc-focus/20210706fdf-harader.html
We’ll Take Every Opportunity to Push for Real Health Equity
In recent letters to Congress and the Office of Management and Budget, the Academy again showed leaders the map for improving health equity. All of its roads lead to primary care.
AAFP News : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20210706itt-equity.html
Leaders Ensure Family Medicine Perspective Is Heard
Family physician Gerald Harmon, M.D., was recently installed as AMA president. AAFP President Ada Stewart, M.D., writes that it is imperative for family medicine to be represented in such leadership roles when policies that affect physicians and patients are being debated.
AAFP News : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/wordfrompresident/entry/20210702wfp-leadership.html
Research Finds Less STI Testing, More Cases During Pandemic
An analysis of sexually transmitted infection test results found that during the COVID-19 pandemic, there were significant declines in testing but an increase in positivity for chlamydia and gonorrhea. A family physician offers suggestions for using the findings in patient discussions.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20210701sticovid.html
Committee Reviews Vaccines for COVID-19, Influenza, More
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices made recommendations regarding COVID-19, dengue, influenza, rabies, zoster and pneumococcal disease during a virtual meeting June 23-25.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20210701acip.html
You Earned an APM Bonus; Does CMS Know Where to Send It?
CMS has begun distributing the 2021 Alternative Payment Model incentive payments. If you’re due to receive a bonus for the 2019 performance year, you’ll want to be sure CMS has your current billing information.
AAFP News : Practice and Career
https://www.aafp.org/news/practice-professional-issues/20210701aapmbonus.html
Flexibility Envisioned in New Residency Requirements
A major revision of family medicine residency requirements is one step closer to fruition. Family Medicine has published nearly three dozen articles that will be considered by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education writing group tasked with updating the requirements.
AAFP News : CME
https://www.aafp.org/news/education-professional-development/20210630acgmeupdate.html
Proposed Rule on ACA Heralds Advocacy Win for AAFP
A new proposed rule favorably answers AAFP lobbying to strengthen the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and follows the U.S. Supreme Court’s upholding of the law, a decision for which the Academy strongly advocated.
AAFP News : Advocacy and Government
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20210630acarule.html
COVID-19 Impact on Behavioral Health Care | AAFP Free CME
Learn how to provide behavioral health support your patients, yourself and your care teams need as a result of the impact of COVID-19. This free AAFP CME focuses on depression, anxiety, and ADHD.
CME : All CME Products
https://www.aafp.org/cme/all/covid-19/covid-19-impact-on-behavioral-health-care-on-demand.html
Geriatrics FP: ‘It’s hard to imagine anything more satisfying’
National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students speaker Carla Ainsworth, M.D., M.P.H., says geriatrics is challenging — and satisfying — because of the complexities and multiple morbidities aging patients present.
AAFP News : Family Doc Focus
https://www.aafp.org/news/family-doc-focus/20210628fdf-ainsworth.html
Congress of Delegates ‘Goin’ to Kansas City’ Sept. 27-29
Good news: This year’s Congress of Delegates will return to an in-person format. Mark your calendar and make your reservations ― it’s time to greet your colleagues again face-to-face!
AAFP News : Inside the Academy
https://www.aafp.org/news/inside-aafp/20210628codcandannounce.html
Never Say Never: Social Media Can Be a Force for Good
MaryAnn Dakkak, M.D., M.S.P.H., writes that it takes a village in the digital age means children need to be able to turn to trusted adults not only in person but on social media, too.
AAFP News : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/freshperspectives/entry/20210625fp-socialmedia.html
AAFP Keeps Vaccine Pressure on Congress; White House Praises FPs
In recent written testimony to Congress, the Academy reiterated family physicians’ crucial role in vaccination counseling and delivery and called for robust funding for education and outreach campaigns to encourage routine immunizations and build vaccine confidence.
AAFP News : Advocacy and Government
https://www.aafp.org/news/government-medicine/20210624vaxtestimony.html
Research Delivers Mixed News on E-cigarettes
New research indicates that although more American youth are aware of the risks and harms associated with e-cigarettes, more also are using these products. A family physician expert comments on these findings.
AAFP News : Patient Care
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20210624e-cigresearch.html
Statement Following CDC ACIP Meeting from Nation’s Leading Doctors, Nurses and Public ...
CDC, ACIP, vaccinations, vaccine, COVID
AAFP News : Media Center
https://www.aafp.org/news/media-center/statements/cdc-acip-meeting-on-benefits-of-vaccination.html
We Can Put More FPs Where They’re Most Needed. Here’s How.
It’s been almost 25 years since Congress added this many Medicare GME residency slots: 1,000. That’s why the AAFP is pushing CMS for rule-making that delivers primary care to more Americans.
AAFP News : Blogs
https://www.aafp.org/news/blogs/inthetrenches/entry/20210622itt-gme.html