Ohio Academy of Family Physicians President Ryan Kauffman, MD; President-Elect Don Mack, MD; and American Academy of Family Physicians Commission on Governmental Advocacy Chair Sarah Sams, MD; represented the OAFP at the 2016 AAFP Legislative Conference held October 27-29 at the Hyatt Regency in Phoenix.
“The conference started on Thursday night with a pre-conference welcome reception, which offered the opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones. After breakfast on Friday, Arizona State Representative Heather Cater, PhD, who is chair of the health committee, welcomed everyone to Phoenix. She discussed how physicians can successfully advocate for their issues. Next Director of AAFP Grassroots Advocacy and the Family Medicine Political Action Committee Mark Cribben, JD, discussed the upcoming election, what to watch for on election night, and how the results of the election will affect family medicine.
AAFP Director of Governmental Affairs Robert Hall, JD, MPA, discussed the way that the AAFP is advocating for family medicine with Congress. The morning concluded with a panel discussion on innovations in Medicaid managed care.
At lunch, Katie Zirkelbach of Chamber Hill Strategies discussed the lame duck Congressional session, the next Congress, and what to expect on issues important to family medicine.
The afternoon started with a panel discussion about state innovations in preventing prescription drug abuse. Mr. Hall gave an update on MACRA including information about how it will affect physicians and the necessary steps for regulators and physicians to take to be ready for MACRA implementation. Next was a discussion of telehealth by Megan Coffman, MS, from the Robert Graham Center, and Latoya Thomas from the American Telemedicine Association.
The day concluded with a state chapter roundtable on legislative issues faced by the states as well as presentation of the Leadership in State Governmental Advocacy awards. The California chapter was honored for the efforts to get $100 million in state funding for graduate medical education for family medicine. Colorado was recognized for their efforts in the creation of a $1,000 state tax credit for rural physicians who serve as preceptors. Georgia won the award for their work with other primary care specialties to increase Medicaid reimbursement for primary care codes.
Saturday started with a discussion of the integration of primary care and public health and its importance in improving public health. Next was a discussion of the challenges and solutions for tobacco policies featuring Ohio family physician Rob Crane, MD, and Robert Graham Center Senior Scholar in Residence Douglas Kamerow, MD, MPH. The conference concluded with a session about the importance of strong vaccine laws and ending exemptions to vaccination requirements.
It was an honor to represent the OAFP at the 2016 AAFP State Legislative Conference. In addition to seeing old friends, it was an excellent opportunity to learn that advocacy efforts of other states. Ohio may want to consider a program to support family medicine preceptors similar to the Colorado legislation.”