The Show-Me-State Update is your source for the latest news and information impacting the medical community. Time-sensitive information and requests related to healthcare, advocacy issues, and professional development opportunities from MAFP are included.

November 2025 – MAFP News & Events

Knowledge, Connections & Kansas City Nights

It’s not too late (but almost!) – Register Now

Join fellow Family Physicians November 7–8, 2025, at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza for MAFP’s Annual Fall Conference—where timeless style meets today’s top clinical CME sessions. Whether you’re early in your career or bringing decades of wisdom, this conference delivers something for everyone: expert-led CME sessions, advocacy insights, peer networking, the MAFP Annual Meeting with proposed bylaws changes, and our can’t-miss Roaring 20’s Awards Banquet. 

• Learn. Connect. Celebrate. Repeat.
• Interact with fellow Missouri family physicians
• Dress to impress for a Roaring night to remember
• Review the schedule and register today!

AFC Lodging Information

InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza
401 Ward Pkwy, Kansas City, MO 64112

Attendees can check availability by clicking here or calling (816) 756-1500 and mentioning Missouri Academy of Family Physicians. 

PS: if you’re sad that you can’t attend this year’s conference and already itching to join us in Margaritaville next year (November 13-14, 2026), there is an additional $50 very early bird registration discount for those that register before November 11, 2025. Access this outrageously good deal at https://moafp.formstack.com/forms/afc_registration_2026.

The 2025 FHFM Silent Auction is Now Open!

Get ready to bid, browse, and support a great cause! the 2025 Family Health Foundation of Missouri (FHFM) Silent Auction is officially open!

This year’s auction features an incredible selection of items donated by our generous sponsors, members, and community partners. Items include local experiences and getaway packages to fine spirits, artwork, and one-of-a-kind memorabilia. With a goal of raising $5,000, every bid you place helps support FHFM programs and initiatives that strengthen family medicine and enhance the health of our communities.

Bidding Closes: November 7, 2025, at 8:00 PM
How to Participate: Visit www.32auctions.com/FHFM2025 to view items, place your bids, and track your favorites in real time. This auction is open to all members regardless of conference attendance. Start bidding today and help make this year’s auction our most successful yet!

Thank you to all who donated items and to every participant for helping us advance the mission of family medicine.

Your Voice. Your Experience. Your Impact.

No matter your stage in practice, your voice matters—and we want to hear from you! The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians is looking for article submissions for upcoming magazine issues. Share your knowledge, expertise, and accomplishments that can benefit, inform, or inspire your fellow family medicine physicians—whether it’s a promotion, award, research findings, clinical insight, emerging trend in your specialty, or unique experience from the field.

• Use the Article Submission Form to submit your article for consideration.
• Upcoming submission deadline: November 15, 2025
• Medical students and residents are encouraged to submit scholarly articles or case reports with physician collaboration.
• Subspecialist physician colleagues are also invited to contribute content that supports family medicine.

For more info, contact Andrea Holloway, Member Engagement Manager, at aholloway@mo-afp.org.

Let’s build something meaningful—together.

Your Journey Is Our Purpose

Navigating your career path is easier with a partner at your side. For family physicians, that’s the AAFP and MAFP.

As a current AAFP and MAFP member, you know that through both the national arm and Missouri Academy of Family Physicians you’ll grow your leadership skills, learn from the journals, ensure you are compensated fairly, access practice tools, help advocate for your specialty—and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Look to MAFP for networking, educational workshops, leadership opportunities and regional advocacy. We’re here to support you throughout your professional journey. All these reasons are why we’re better together. Stronger together. Thank you for your membership. We look forward to continuing to work together.

Ready to Renew?
Let’s continue to work together for family medicine. It’s easy to renew your AAFP membership for 2026 now to ensure access to everything this membership provides.

Renew Today

Contact the MAFP team at marketing@mo-afp.org or (573) 635-0830 if you have any questions.

FP Essentials Call for Authors

The editors of AAFP’s FP Essentials are seeking proposals from potential authors through November 17, 2025. Author groups receive a $4,000 honorarium for preparing a manuscript and seeing it through to publication.   

​FP Essentials is a monthly monograph series that features comprehensive, up-to-date reviews of clinical topics important in family medicine. FP Essentials is indexed in PubMed/Medline and is one of the AAFP’s most popular CME activities.   

​Proposals are being solicited for these topics: 

• ​Body Health Challenges for Teens 
• ​Chronic Low Back Pain 
• ​Menstrual Disorders 
• ​Oral Health 

Submissions are due November 17, 2025. ​​Click here for submission requirements and other important information.  

New Streamlined Recognition Program

The AAFP is launching a fully refreshed recognition program that will make it easier for chapters and individuals to participate in nominations for awards and other AAFP recognitions. The program was announced at the 2025 Congress of Delegates and Family Medicine Experience (FMX). 

The new program streamlines nominations (including self-nominations) for recognitions into four categories: 

• Leadership 
• Mentorship & Teaching 
• Service & Community Engagement 
• Career Longevity & Special Accomplishment  

Chapters may still nominate members and/or provide written recommendations for recognitions, but these supporting actions will now be optional. In addition, a new optional scale allows chapters to quickly express their level of support for a nominee without having to write a letter of recommendation. 

The new system includes a form allowing individuals to request support from their chapter. When the form is completed by a MAFP member, MAFP will receive a link allowing us to write a recommendation and/or check a box to indicate that we are: 

• Familiar with the member and highly supportive of the nomination 
• Familiar with the member and supportive of the nomination 
• Familiar with the member and neutral on the nomination 
• Familiar with the member and not supportive of the nomination at this time 
• Not familiar with the member  

Visit the AAFP Awards page at aafp.org/awards  for details. 

AAFP’s Positions Regarding Recently Adopted and Updated Immunization Recommendations for the 2025-2026 Season

Family physicians play a pivotal role in delivering preventive care, and it is crucial that coverage and payment policies are in harmony with evidence-based guidance to ensure patient access. To aid in this effort, the AAFP has published its 2025-2026 immunization schedules to serve as a practical tool for family physicians.  

Seeking Applicants for 2027 AAFP NCCL Convener​​

Application Deadline: December 12, 2025 

The AAFP seeks applicants for the role of 2027 NCCL Convener. Chapters are asked to share the following information with Active constituency members. Anyone interested that meets the qualifications below should carefully review the responsibilities of the NCCL Convener and complete the application.   

Qualifications 

• ​Must meet a constituency definition at the time of the meeting he/she will convene (date for 2027 NCCL is April 16-18, 2027, in Kansas City, MO 
• ​Cannot be a constituency delegate at the 2026 or 2027 Congress of Delegates 
• ​Must have attended the NCCL or Annual Chapter Leader Forum within the past three years and must have previously served as a Co-Convener or Delegate or Alternate Delegate for the Member Constituencies or New Physicians 
• ​Must attend 2026 NCCL and cannot run for any office at the 2026 or 2027 NCCL 

Application Requirements 

• ​Official fact sheet (limited to 3 typed pages) 
• ​Curriculum vitae (limited to 2 pages) 
• ​Headshot 
• ​Letter of support from chapter executive, documenting chapter involvement and experience 

​Selection Process 

​The 2027 Convener will be elected at the 2026 NCCL. The Commission on Membership and Member Services will determine no more than three candidates to be submitted as the slate for NCCL Convener to the Board Chair for ratification. The Board Chair-approved candidates will present five-minute speeches for the position of Convener to the NCCL body during the Joint Session Caucus on Friday afternoon in addition to a brief question and answer session. Only NCCL Chapter Delegates will be allowed to cast a ballot in the NCCL Convener election. The candidates will be notified immediately of the election results by the NCCL Convener to facilitate the mentoring process at the current NCCL.    

​Timeline 

• Deadline: close of business December 12, 2025. Late applications will not be accepted. 
• ​Selection and Notification: applicants will be notified of selection no later than February 6, 2026. 

For more information, contact Stacy Wymer at (913) 906-6391, or email at swymer@aafp.org. 

Deadline Extended! Help Us Help You: Fill Out the Career Survey

The survey is now open until December 15, 2025!

We need to gather a minimum amount of data to be statistically valid.  As people that live in an evidence-based world, you understand more entries = more reliable findings. 

Real data that provides information such as salary, satisfaction, benefits and job titles is vital when negotiating a contract, considering a job offer and even just planning your career.  That’s what the AAFP Career Benchmark Dashboard has been doing since 2023—and now it’s time to fuel the dashboard with the latest data.  

The Missouri Academy of Family Physicians urges you to take 10 minutes to fill in your information—anonymously of course. The more people who fill it out, the richer the dashboard becomes with insights for you and your peers from all over the United States.   

Once the 2025 data is in, you’ll be able to filter the information to compare 2023 to 2025 numbers, as well as all the other perimeters currently available on the dashboard. Plus, this year’s survey will include questions that cover direct primary care and obstetrical care. 

Now’s the time to know your worth! Fill out this year’s survey and encourage your colleagues to do the same to create a robust, powerful tool. 

Click here to view the current dashboard and update the data for 2025 

Important CLIA Update: Transition to Paperless Fee Coupons and CLIA Certificates

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) is improving the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) program by switching to electronic fee coupons and CLIA certificates. To take full advantage of these improvements, laboratories and providers that perform laboratory testing have until March 1, 2026, to switch to CMS email notifications and begin receiving electronic CLIA fee coupons and certificates. With this switch, CMS is moving to a completely electronic system. After this date, paper fee coupons and paper CLIA certificates will no longer be available.  

 By switching to electronic notifications, your laboratory will get: 

• Email notifications from CMS 
• Electronic fee coupons* 
• Electronic CLIA certificate – no more waiting for it to come in the mail* 

*This does not apply to CLIA-exempt states or state licensure. 

 To switch, you must: 

• Provide written notification to your State Agency by email. Tip: Include your laboratory name, laboratory director or owner’s name, CLIA number, director or designee’s signature to help your State Agency make the switch. 

-OR- 

• Contact your Accreditation Organization if you’re an accredited laboratory. They can now add or update email addresses for the laboratories they survey. 

-OR- 

• Fill out the CMS-116 application form. To switch to electronic notifications, check the box, “Receive notifications including electronic certificates via email.” 

Reach out to your State Agency or Accreditation Organization for assistance. For more details, visit Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA).

Share Vaccine Stories with AAFP

The AAFP is collecting stories from members to share directly with lawmakers. Members are encouraged to assist in this effort by submitting their stories on vaccines. 

Family physicians are on the frontlines of patient care, and your experiences with vaccines, whether celebrating successes, navigating challenges or addressing patient concerns, are invaluable. The AAFP invites you to share your story, which will allow us to highlight the essential role family physicians play in promoting vaccinations, identify opportunities for support and inform future resources and advocacy efforts. 

Share your vaccine story here. 

Lead the Conversation on COVID-19 Vaccines

Navigating the evolving landscape of COVID-19 vaccine recommendations has become increasingly complex. To help you cut through the noise, the AAFP has developed a suite of resources tailored to support you in making confident, evidence-based vaccine recommendations. 

These new tools are designed to simplify discussions about both mRNA and non-mRNA vaccines. They provide concise, accessible information to address patient concerns, highlight the importance of timely immunization and reinforce the role of vaccines in preventing severe illness, hospitalization and death. 

We encourage you to explore and share these materials with your care teams. By incorporating them into patient conversations, you’ll be better equipped to guide informed choices, foster trust and strengthen community health outcomes. Access the resources today and make them part of your vaccine discussions. 

Learn more.

Provide the Best Care for Patients with Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) requires careful management—not only during pregnancy but well into the postpartum period. Patients with a history of GDM face a significantly higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life, making proactive monitoring and tailored care strategies essential. 

To support family physicians in meeting this challenge, the AAFP has developed new resources, including a comprehensive guidance document and practice hack videos, that share the latest evidence-based recommendations. These resources highlight key considerations for diagnosis, management and timing of interventions across the continuum of pregnancy and into postpartum care. 

They also explore the role of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) as an option for pregnant and postpartum patients, giving you a clear view of how this technology can enhance outcomes and patient experience. 

Download the guide and watch the videos today to strengthen your approach to GDM management and ensure your patients receive the most up-to-date, comprehensive care throughout their pregnancy journey and beyond. 

Learn more.

Free CME | Advances in Brain Health: Blood Biomarkers in Alzheimer’s Dementia

You’re on the front line of dementia care. With a shortage of dementia care specialists and direct care workers, family physicians are essential in bridging the care gap. 

To support you, the AAFP created a free CME self-study activity, Advances in Brain Health: Blood Biomarkers (BBMs) in Alzheimer’s Dementia (AD). This 4-hour course is designed to enhance your knowledge and clinical competence in identifying and managing patients with cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease. 

Key topics include: 

• Addressing barriers to annual cognitive screening 
• BBM test selection and characteristics 
• Next steps after a positive screening 
• Basic science and technology behind BBMs 

Earn 3.75 CME credits while closing critical care gaps identified in the AAFP’s Voices of Alzheimer’s survey. 

Learn More. 

Family Medicine Advocacy Rounds – Issue 40, October 2025 

Welcome to Family Medicine Advocacy Rounds — the American Academy of Family Physicians’ monthly tip sheet to educate, engage and update you on the latest policy issues affecting family physicians and their patients. 

Family Physicians Concerned about Shutdown’s Impact on Patients 

In the face of a government shutdown, our ask is clear: Congress must safeguard the programs that keep care within reach. Funding for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program and the Community Health Center Fund is essential, not just for training tomorrow’s primary care physicians but also to ensure that every family has a place to turn when they need help. Additionally, telehealth serves as a lifeline for so many; preserving flexibility and access is crucial. Read our full statement here, and read our letter to the administration here.  

We are particularly concerned about the announcement that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will hold claims for Medicare services impacted by the expiring programs, including telehealth services. 
 

AAFP Weighs in on New Proposed Rules Impacting IMGs 

Why it matters: The health of our nation depends on a strong primary care foundation. Despite overwhelming evidence to support primary care as the solution to the chronic disease crisis, it is projected that the U.S. will face a shortage of up to 40,000 primary care physicians by 2036. 

Placing unnecessary restrictions on U.S. visa programs could discourage international medical graduates (IMGs) from entering family medicine or accepting positions in high-need areas, which would exacerbate existing workforce shortages, limit communities’ access to essential care and compromise public health outcomes.  

What we’re working on: 

• The AAFP wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as joining two sign-on letters, opposing a proposed rule to force non-U.S. medical residents to reapply for their visas after four years. Currently, IMGs visas are approved for the duration of their program, no matter how long the program is. If finalized, this rule would have far-reaching consequences for the primary care workforce. 
• We urged DHS to recognize IMGs’ importance in building a strong primary care workforce and to acknowledge how transparent, clear visa processes contribute to expanding that workforce. 
• The AAFP urged DHS to use its authority to advance visa policies that support medical students, residents and physicians being able to serve U.S. patients and communities.
• The AAFP also wrote a letter and signed onto a joint letter with the American Medical Association pushing back against new rules that require a non-U.S. citizen applying for a new H-1B visa to pay a $100,000 fee.  
• The letter explains that doctors, including family physicians, are essential to our country and should be excluded from this requirement.  
• It also points out that physicians who hold H-1B visas are especially important in rural and underserved communities, and that states with more H-1B visa-holding doctors usually have fewer physicians per capita, making the contributions of IMGs even more critical. 

AAFP Endorses Bipartisan Safe Step Act 

Why it matters: Step therapy is a prior-authorization policy that requires patients to try and fail one or more insurer-preferred treatments before coverage is granted for the medication originally prescribed by their clinician. While intended to reduce unnecessary utilization, these protocols too often jeopardize patient health, increase administrative burdens for physicians and undermine continuity of care.  

What we’re working on: The AAFP applauds Congress for reintroducing the Safe Step Act, which would limit the use of step-therapy protocols to ensure that patients have access to treatment. This bipartisan legislation is a concrete step toward minimizing care delays for patients. 
 

AAFP: Linking Vaccines to Autism Is Unproven and Dangerous 

Following remarks from the president and the Health and Human Services secretary, the AAFP doubled down: Vaccines do not cause autism and taking acetaminophen while pregnant does not cause autism. These claims risk public health by causing people to suffer, delay or defer vaccination out of fear. Read our full statement.  

The AAFP will always be an agent of truth when it comes to public health. The 2025 Edelman Trust Barometer found that 82% of respondents trust their doctor more than any other source of medical information, including the internet and family and friends. 

Sarah C. Nosal, MD, FAAFP, Takes Office as AAFP President 

On October 6, Sarah C. Nosal, MD, FAAFP, was installed as AAFP president. Nosal, a family physician in Bronx, New York, brings nearly two decades of experience serving diverse and under-resourced communities, as well as state and national advocacy and leadership. Nosal is vice president for innovation and optimization and chief medical information officer at the Institute for Family Health, a network of federally qualified health centers spanning the Mid-Hudson, Bronx, Manhattan and Brooklyn.  

The AAFP also announced its 2025-26 officers and board members. Read our full press release here.

What We’re Reading 

• The AAFP released fall immunization recommendations. “History shows us that vaccines have eradicated diseases that were disabling and deadly in the past, and we can keep it that way if we continue to vaccinate,” said Margot Savoy, MD, MPH, CPE, FAAFP, chief medical officer of the AAFP.
• AAFP Board Chair Jen Brull, MD, FAAFP, spoke with NPR about changing public health guidance, what doctors are hearing from patients and how to best navigate changes. “If you hear something, wherever that source is—whether it’s the television, TikTok or a headline—and you have a question about it, that’s the time to have a conversation with the person who knows your health best,” she said.
• Dr. Brull wrote in the Oklahoman about the importance of family physicians as trusted messengers. “The expertise your physician brings and the self-advocacy you bring to appointments are what helps us navigate the uncertainty and questions—big or small,” she wrote. 
• Robert Graham Center Director Yalda Jabbarpour, MD, spoke to Medscape about how Medicaid cuts reflect a “deeply concerning trend” in health policy: the “systematic underinvestment” in primary care. “At a time when more than a third of adults and 15% of children lack a usual source of care, we should be expanding access—not restricting it,” she said.