Fam Med Fridays

Your weekly update from the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians

Fam Med Fridays is the Missouri Academy of Family Physicians’ weekly member newsletter, bringing you the latest advocacy updates, CME opportunities, Academy news, clinical resources, member highlights, and important deadlines. Delivered every Friday, it’s your go-to source for staying informed and connected with Missouri’s family medicine community. Questions? Contact marketing@mo-afp.org.

Updated September 4, 2026

Participate and Shape How Processes and Performance are Improved Through AAFP QI/PI Cohorts

Deadline: September 25

Learn more about quality and performance improvement programs from the AAFP to help improve your practice’s systems (practice improvement) and outcomes (quality improvement).  

Help families navigate RSV prevention decisions. 
When families have questions about protecting their infants from RSV, they often turn to their family physician for guidance. The AAFP’s new quality improvement CME cohort gives your practice practical tools, education and peer support to help strengthen RSV prevention efforts for pregnant patients and infants, all while earning up to 30.5 CME credits, including 20 PI CME credits. Only 25 practices nationally will be selected. Apply by September 25, 2026  

Help more patients take the next step in lung cancer screening.
The decision to get screened for lung cancer often begins with a trusted recommendation: yours. The AAFP’s new Performance Improvement CME cohort gives you practical tools, education and peer support to strengthen lung cancer screening and follow-up in your practice, all while earning up to 30.5 CME credits, including 20 PI CME credits. Only 25 practices nationally will be selected. Apply by Sept. 25, 2026.   

Learn more and apply for either cohort at https://www.aafp.org/get-involved/quality-and-performance-improvement-programs#application  

Tools That Make Vaccine Conversations Easier

Your recommendation remains one of the strongest influences on whether a patient chooses to be vaccinated. That’s especially important as you care for older adults and patients at higher risk for serious illness from influenza and COVID-19. 

To guide those conversations, the AAFP has developed patient-friendly conversation guides that make it easier to encourage shared decision making and meaningful discussions during office visits. These easy-to-use tools can help you explain vaccine recommendations, answer patient questions and build confidence. 

Explore these resources and incorporate them into your workflow this season. They offer another practical way to support the trusted conversations you have with patients every day. 

Download the influenza and COVID-19 conversation resources. 

AAFP Commissions: Help Shape the Future of Family Medicine

Deadline: October 15

The American Academy of Family Physicians is comprised of eight commissions which are part of the governing structure of the Academy. The commissions include Continuing Professional Development, Federal and State Policy, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusiveness in Family Medicine, Membership and Member Services, Education, Finance and Insurance, Health of the Public and Science, Quality and Practice. The description for each commission for which you have an interest is available at https://www.aafp.org/about/leadership/commissions.   

The deadline for receipt of nominations by AAFP is October 15. 

Please contact MAFP Executive Director, Bill Plank, at bplank@mo-afp.org for more information on the application process. Any member interested in applying must contact Bill prior to submitting an application.

MAFP 34th Annual Fall Conference – Charting the Course: Navigating the Depth of Family Medicine

November 13-14, 2026 | Margaritaville Lake Resort, Osage Beach, MO

If you valued last year’s experience, you will not want to miss what is ahead.

This conference is designed for physicians who want high-value education, meaningful connection with colleagues, and a schedule that respects your time. Whether your goals is to stay current clinically, gain practical tools, or reconnect with peers, this conference is structured to deliver.

What You Will Gain:

• Immediate clinical application for patient care
• Tools to improve efficiency in your practice workflow
• Increased confidence in managing common and complex conditions
• Relevant updates that impact your daily work
• Connection with colleagues to share real-world solutions

Late registration penalty will be added starting 10/13/2026.

More information and registration available at www.mo-afp.org/annual-fall-conference.

Help Shape Our Future Conferences

Deadline: December 2026 & February 2027

We’re looking for speakers and session ideas for upcoming events, and we’d love your input. Know someone engaging? Have a topic that’s practical and relevant to family medicine? Or something you’ve thought, “more people need to hear this”?

Opportunities Include:
Midwest Mental Health Symposium
June 11–12, 2027 | Excelsior Springs, MO

35th Annual Fall Conference
September 10–11, 2027 | St. Louis, MO

We’re Looking For:
✔ Practical, real-world topics
✔ Interactive or case-based sessions
✔ Fresh perspectives for family physicians

Send ideas or recommendations to: Andrea Holloway, MAFP Member Experience Manager, aholloway@mo.afp.org. Sometimes the best sessions start with a simple idea, and we’d love to hear yours! Learn more.

New Resources to Support Cancer Survivorship Care 

As the population of cancer survivors grows, your role in their long-term care has never been more important. Many survivors face ongoing physical, emotional and functional health challenges long after treatment ends, including complications such as cancer-related lymphedema. 

To help support this important work, the AAFP has new evidence-based resources available to assist you in managing survivorship needs, enhancing patient communication and improving long-term health outcomes. These practical materials are designed specifically for use in primary care settings and include guidance on symptom recognition, clinical management and survivorship best practices. Find them here >  

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. 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.

Family Medicine Advocacy Rounds – July 2026

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. 

AAFP Responds to 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule 

The 2027 Medicare physician fee schedule proposed rule is out, and the AAFP welcomes several provisions and is particularly encouraged that CMS is signaling better and continued support for primary care, and will: 

• Expand the primary care exception, which would give teaching physicians more flexibility to supervise care, improve timely access and support the future primary care workforce. 
• Continue to improve valuation of physician services by reexamining potentially misvalued codes and updating payment to better reflect today’s care and costs. 
• Expand payment for primary care-oriented services such as advance care planning and shared medical appointments. 
• Request information on redesigning primary care payment under the fee schedule to better support preventive, comprehensive care. 

The AAFP commends CMS and Congress for taking steps to ensure primary care practices can keep up with rising costs and meet patient needs. Read our full press statement here.  

  Patients First Act Signals More Support for Primary Care Payment 

 Why it matters: For years, family physicians have faced a growing challenge: providing comprehensive, longitudinal care within a Medicare payment system that has failed to keep pace with rising practice costs and the evolving needs of patients. The introduction of the Patients First Act marks an important milestone in the effort to address these roadblocks.  

What we’re working on: The AAFP issued a statement supporting bipartisan legislation from Reps. Kim Schrier, John Joyce and Greg Murphy that would incorporate several priorities long championed by AAFP and put payment reform in reach, including: 

• A five-year pilot that would provide independent physician practices with predictable, per-member-per-month payments for primary care clinicians, helping move Medicare away from an outdated fee-for-service system that rewards volume over value.  
• The pilot would create new opportunities to invest in primary care infrastructure, care coordination and patient outreach while giving physicians more time to spend with patients.  
• A permanent, inflation-based physician payment update tied to the Medicare Economic Index will address a longstanding flaw in Medicare’s physician payment system.  
• The bill would implement long-overdue reforms to Medicare’s budget neutrality requirements, as originally proposed in the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act.  

“We applaud Representatives Joyce, Schrier and Murphy for their leadership in championing critical primary care payment reforms,” said Stephanie Quinn, AAFP senior vice president for external affairs and practice experience. “Because Medicare’s physician fee schedule influences payment rates across the health care system, these reforms have the potential to improve access to care for patients far beyond Medicare.” 

Read our full press release here, along with a joint statement from the AAFP, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association and the American Psychiatric Association. 

  Leading Physician Groups Oppose Public Charge Rule 

The AAFP, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American College of Physicians, the American Osteopathic Association and the American Psychiatric Association opposed the administration’s final public charge rule announced last week. The rule will deepen fear and uncertainty for immigrant families and lead to more confusion for patients—making it harder for physicians to keep families healthy.  

“Health care works best when patients can trust their physicians and seek the care and services they need without fear. Policies that deter families from accessing care make children, pregnant patients, adults and entire communities less healthy,” the group said. Read the full statement here.  

 AAFP Comments on Proposed Changes to Federal Grant Rules 

The AAFP submitted comments to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on proposed changes to the rules governing federal grants and other financial assistance. We expressed concern that the proposal would increase political influence over funding decisions and expand agencies’ ability to terminate awards. The AAFP urged OMB to keep funding decisions grounded in scientific merit and expert review, limit grant terminations to cases of noncompliance or legal conflict and ensure nonprofit eligibility is based on an organization’s ability to carry out a program, not its tax status. 

 AAFP Encouraged by PSLF Ruling 

Every American deserves access to a family physician in their community. By ensuring student loan relief for those who work in public service, the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program is a critical way we strengthen our health care system and close care gaps.  

The AAFP is encouraged by a recent court decision to protect the Public Student Loan Forgiveness Program. Physicians, employers and borrowers who have historically had access to the program now remain fully eligible.  

The AAFP strongly and repeatedly objected to the proposed rule and continued advocating against the final rule upon its release, particularly changes to the term “qualifying employer.” 

 Family Physicians Oppose Medicaid Work Reporting Requirements 

Why it matters: The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued an interim final rule implementing Medicaid work reporting requirements. The AAFP is deeply concerned that these requirements will result in massive coverage losses for eligible beneficiaries. When patients can access Medicaid, communities are healthier.  

What we’re working on:  

• The AAFP responded to the rule and urged CMS to first and foremost revise and reissue this interim final rule to better align with the law, and the operational realities of states as they navigate compounding impacts to Medicaid from H.R.1. To further prevent eligible Medicaid enrollees from losing health coverage, the AAFP also recommended CMS: 
• Give states more flexibility to recognize additional forms of medical frailty.  
• Extend the allowance for self-attestation beyond 2027 when medical documentation is unavailable.  
• Remove unnecessary documentation and repeated verification requirements for patients with serious or complex medical conditions.  
• Preserve medical frailty protections for people in long-term recovery from substance use disorders.  
• Clarify that physicians’ role is limited to providing clinical documentation, not determining Medicaid eligibility or exemptions.  
• Streamline state reporting requirements to reduce administrative burden while maintaining program oversight over critical metrics including disenrollment and medical frailty denials.  

CMS Proposes New Limits on Medicaid Physician Payments 

 Why it matters: CMS has proposed a rule that would significantly limit how states use Medicaid state directed payments (SDPs) and targeted fee-for-service (FFS) payments to support physicians and other providers.  

The proposal would cap many Medicaid payments at Medicare rates, phase down existing supplemental payments beginning in 2028, and impose new reporting and compliance requirements for states. Family physicians are concerned these changes could reduce state Medicaid financing flexibility, increase administrative burden for states and physicians and threaten access to care. 

What we’re working on: The AAFP’s recommendations aim to preserve access to care for Medicaid patients while avoiding unnecessary administrative burdens that could further strain physician practices and state Medicaid programs. 

In recent letter, the AAFP urged CMS to: 

• Limit the new SDP caps to the services specifically required by statute, rather than expanding them more broadly.  
• Preserve states’ ability to use uniform rate increases and other payment strategies that support access to care.  
• Exempt Medicaid services without clear Medicare payment equivalents, such as maternal health, pediatric care and home- and community-based services.  
• Provide states with more time to implement the changes and simplify reporting and compliance requirements.  
• Maintain state flexibility to target FFS supplemental payments where physician shortages and access gaps exist, especially in primary care.  
• Retain practical payment methodologies that are feasible for states and clinicians to administer.  

House Health Subcommittee Advances AAFP-Supported Health Bills 

In June, the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee advanced several bills with bipartisan support that align with AAFP priorities on overdose prevention and Medicare Advantage reform. The AAFP sent a letter to Congress applauding the passage of the bills below: 

• Combating the overdose crisis: The package includes the ALERT Communities Act (H.R. 1561) and HERO Act (H.R. 7994), which would expand access to drug-checking test strips and naloxone in schools to help prevent overdose deaths. 
• Improving Medicare Advantage: The Subcommittee also advanced several bills to increase transparency, strengthen oversight of MA plans and reduce administrative burdens such as prior authorization that can delay patient care, including: 
• Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3514)  
• Prior Authorization Accountability Act (H.R. 9396)  
• Premium Transparency Act (H.R. 9397)  
• Medicare Advantage Cost Transparency Act (H.R. 9392)  
• Transparency in Medicare Advantage Steering Act (H.R. 9395) 
• The AAFP is urging the full Committee to advance these measures, which would improve access to care, support physicians and help patients make more informed health care decisions. 
    

Triple Double Campaign Launches at PrimaryCare26 

Americans are paying more for health care than ever before, yet too many still struggle to find a trusted primary care clinician, get timely appointments or manage chronic conditions before they become larger medical problems.   

As the leading convener of primary care organizations, Primary Care for America hosted the launch of the Triple Double Campaign—a bold, national effort to strengthen the foundation of the U.S. health care system by doubling investment in primary care, doubling access to primary care and doubling the next generation of primary care clinicians. The campaign is a joint effort from the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), with partner organizations from across the health care ecosystem. 

Read our full press release here and a recap in MedPage Today and Medical Economics about the event.   

Learn more about the Triple Double Campaign here. 

AAFP Urges Continued Youth Tobacco Surveillance 

The AAFP wrote to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) supporting the continued annual administration of the National Youth Tobacco Survey and calling for the release of the delayed 2025 survey results. We also urged the FDA to maintain rigorous scientific standards for reviewing tobacco products and reconsider recent approvals of flavored electronic nicotine delivery systems that could increase youth tobacco use. 

AAFP Supports Expanded Access to Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs 

The AAFP submitted comments to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) on a proposed rule clarifying which VA personnel may access state Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs). The AAFP supported the proposal as a way to improve safe prescribing and coordinated patient care, while recommending additional clarity on who may access PDMP data, the role of delegates, prescribing authority and key clinician definitions. 

What We’re Reading   

• In an interview with Healio, Stephanie Quinn, AAFP’s SVP of external affairs and practice experience, shared that primary care is among the specialties facing the greatest strain from the current payment system “because the Medicare payment system still does not reflect the full value of what family physicians do every day.”
• AAFP President Sarah C. Nosal, MD, FAAFP, joined the Unbiased Science podcast to talk about the importance of adult vaccines, including shingles, HPV, flu, COVID, RSV and more. The conversation covers vaccine recommendations, personal experiences and address common questions to help listeners make informed health decisions.
• U.S. Senators Jacky Rosen (D-NV) and John Curtis (R-UT) introduced a bipartisan bill to protect patients’ access to their preferred doctors and lower out-of-pocket drug costs. “The American Academy of Family Physicians strongly supports the Preserving Patient Access Act, which will help patients prioritize their health and ensure relationships are maintained with trusted physicians and that access to necessary medications go uninterrupted,” said Sarah C. Nosal, MD, FAAFP, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians.