Public Policy
A strategic pillar of the Ohio Academy of Family Physicians (OAFP) is advocacy. The advocacy pillar of action advances the OAFP’s mission to improve the health of patients by advocating for and advancing the specialty of family medicine and providing valuable solutions to the diverse needs of its members.
Our advocacy team includes OAFP staff and our contracted lobbyist Lauren Huddleston, JD. The advocacy team works carefully with the OAFP’s Public Policy Committee to develop legislative and executive relationships to further the Academy’s mission.
The OAFP’s 2023-26 Strategic Plan lays the foundation for its advocacy work with a specific goal, objective, and legislative priorities as follows:
Strategic Goal
Ensure all members receive value for membership through meaningful engagement experiences and the OAFP’s unwavering commitment to cultivate professional satisfaction.
Strategic Objective
Demonstrate the value of family medicine as the cornerstone of a high-quality healthcare infrastructure through legislative and regulatory advocacy.
- Easing administrative burdens on family physicians and their practice teams
- Minimizing legislative interference into the practice of medicine
- Advocating for payment systems/regulations that empower family physicians and their patients to thrive in the healthcare infrastructure
- Advocating for public policy that positively impacts population health and social determinants of health so family physicians can be champions of diversity, equity, and inclusion in their communities
- Advocating for appropriate funding mechanisms that incentivize medical schools and residency programs to produce a sustainable family medicine workforce needed for Ohio’s patients
- Supporting initiatives that increase the number of family physicians practicing in Ohio.