FFFM | State and Local Advocacy at Work

In this episode of Fighting for Family Medicine, AAFP Vice President of Government Relations David Tully recaps the Academy's September advocacy efforts before sitting down with Julie Harrison, Senior Manager of State Affairs and Member Advocacy, to examine some of the biggest policy trends and state-level wins for family medicine during the 2026 legislative sessions.

Tully highlights the AAFP's advocacy efforts during the months of August and September, including immunizations, Medicare physician payment, prior authorization, rural obstetric care and the primary care workforce. He also reviews several regulatory issues the AAFP weighed in over the past several weeks.

The conversation then turns to state legislatures, where Julie identifies four major themes from 2026: scope of practice, insurer reform, physician workforce investment, and increased attention to primary care investment. She highlights efforts involving prior authorization and insurer downcoding, loan repayment and physician recruitment, primary care spending and policies supporting physician-led, team-based care. The AAFP maintains state policy resources covering these issues, including backgrounders on prior authorization, primary care spending, scope of practice and workforce policy.

Julie also explains why state advocacy matters even for physicians who do not consider themselves policy experts. She encourages family physicians to stay connected with their state chapters, use AAFP advocacy resources, and respond when opportunities arise to contact lawmakers or share firsthand experiences from practice. The episode emphasizes that many policies affecting day-to-day patient care and medical practice are decided at the state level — and that physician participation can help inform those decisions.

Episode hosts

David Tully

Vice president of government relations and member of the AAFP advocacy team

Julie Harrison

Sr. Manager, State Affairs and Member Advocacy

Resources

• State advocacy for family physicians

• State legislative backgrounders for family physicians

• Model health legislation library

• AAFP Letter to Congressional leadership urging action on critical AAFP priorities

• AAFP Letter to House Energy and Commerce Committee and Health, Education, Labor & Pensions Committee on Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act - July 14, 2026

• Initial Response to RFI on Federal Vaccine Categories - August 24, 2026

• Family Physicians: Vaccines Essential to Preventing Serious Illness and Death | AAFP

• Immunizations And Vaccines For Family Physicians | AAFP

• AAFP Announces Fall Immunization Recommendations to Protect Patients and Communities | AAFP

• AAFP Letter to Congressional leadership urging action on critical AAFP priorities

• AAFP Comments to CMS on the CY 2027 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule - September 11, 2026

• Proposed Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Takes Important Steps to Bolster Primary Care | AAFP

• AAFP Response to CMS-CDC on CLIA Request for Information - September 9, 2026

• AAFP Letter for Energy and Commerce Hearing on Physician Payment Legislation - September 15, 2026

Topics By Timestamp

00:00 September advocacy roundup
00:35 Fall immunization recommendations and vaccine access
01:53 Medicare payment, prior authorization and rural care advocacy
03:09 Regulatory updates affecting family physicians
05:59 Looking back at the 2026 state legislative sessions
06:30 Four major state policy trends for family medicine
10:02 Prior authorization and insurer reform victories
11:26 Primary care investment and workforce initiatives
13:52 Protecting physician-led, team-based care
16:39 How family physicians can get involved in state advocacy

Disclaimer: Copyright 2026. AAFP. The views presented in this broadcast are the speaker's own and do not represent those of AAFP. The information presented is for general, educational, or entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal, health, financial, or other advice.  AAFP makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and is not responsible for results that may arise from its use.  Consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and respective governing bodies for applicable laws. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by AAFP unless specifically stated otherwise.  AAFP and the AAFP logo are registered trademarks of American Academy of Family Physicians.