The task force began when Jessica Glick, DO, our founding chair, was inspired by her experience participating in AAFP’s Leading Physician Well-Being Scholars program. The knowledge and skills gained through the program sparked a vision to bring this mission to Texas, and TAFP’s Council on Workforce and Member Engagement leadership approved the creation of a new task force. Now, more than 20 TAFP members, including scholars from the AAFP program and other members passionate about physician well-being, are ready to serve on the Physician Well-Being Task Force. Together, we bring a wealth of expertise, dedication, and commitment to making physician well-being an integral and lasting part of TAFP.

Cultivating the well-being of family physicians is one of the most important investments we can make in the future of our profession. Physicians today are practicing in an environment of increasing complexity, competing demands, administrative burdens, workforce challenges, and ever-growing expectations. Family physicians give so much of themselves to their patients, their teams, and their communities. Yet, too often, the well-being of the physician is placed last. Supporting physicians must be viewed not as an additional initiative, but as an essential investment in the sustainability of our profession and the health of the patients and communities we serve.

What makes this task force unique is that our work is member-driven. We are not developing initiatives based solely on what we think physicians need. Instead, we are listening directly to our members and using their experiences to shape our priorities. The first well-being survey conducted in 2025 provided valuable insight into what TAFP members are experiencing, what challenges they are facing, and where they believe additional support is needed. Those findings help guide the initiatives and resources we are developing and will continue to serve as the foundation for our work moving forward.

In other words, this truly is by members, for members.

We recognize that there is no single definition of well-being and no one solution that will work for every physician. The needs of a resident may differ from those of an early-career physician, a physician in mid-career, or someone preparing for retirement. Similarly, the experience of a physician practicing in a rural community may be very different from that of someone working in an academic center, private practice, community health center, or hospital-based setting. Our goal is to recognize and learn from these differences rather than take a one-size-fits-all approach.

The task force focuses on creating opportunities for connection, education, support, advocacy, and meaningful change. While individual well-being strategies have an important role, we also recognize that physician well-being cannot rest solely on an individual’s ability to be more resilient. We must also consider the systems and environments in which physicians practice and work together to identify ways to make those environments healthier and more sustainable. You will soon begin to see our work in TAFP’s News Now, on TAFP social media, and on TAFP’s well-being homepage. And don’t forget that AAFP also has a physician well-being hub on their site.

We know that the most important work happens when we listen. The survey provided an important starting point, but it is only one part of the conversation. We want to continue hearing from TAFP members across Texas. We invite our members to continue sharing their experiences, ideas, challenges and needs with us. Together, we can strengthen the well-being of Texas family physicians and, in doing so, strengthen the future of family medicine and the communities we serve.

We welcome your input, feedback, and ideas as we continue this important work. Please feel free to contact the task force directly at tafpwellbeing@gmail.com and share your thoughts with us! 

Christine Camacho, MD, FAAFP, is a dual board-certified physician in family medicine and obesity medicine practicing in San Antonio, Texas. She serves as an associate professor at UT Health San Antonio and core faculty for the family medicine residency program. Passionate about physician well-being and fostering a culture of wellness in medicine, she is recognized as an AAFP Leading Physician Well-Being Scholar and serves as a member of the TAFP Well-Being Task Force.

The TTU System Board of Regents on August 13 approved Young’s appointment as a Grover E. Murray Professor at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. The professorship, named for the eighth president of Texas Tech University, recognizes faculty members who have achieved national and international distinction through outstanding research, scholarship, and creative achievement.

Young, professor and regional chair of the TTUHSC Department of Family and Community Medicine in Amarillo, said the recognition came as a surprise, and that his years of involvement in organized medicine played an important role in making it possible.

“My work through TMA and TAFP, which has been far more joy than work, is no doubt a major reason why this honor has come my way,” Young said. “Just as it is at TTUHSC, my colleagues at TMA and TAFP have made me a much better physician and educator, and I’m enormously grateful to have gathered so many fantastic friends and mentors along the way.”

Young joined the TTUHSC School of Medicine as an assistant professor in 2000 and has served as regional chair of Family and Community Medicine in Amarillo since 2003. A graduate of both the TTUHSC School of Medicine and its family medicine residency program, he has devoted more than 25 years to patient care, medical education, scholarship, and service.

TTUHSC President Lori Rice-Spearman, PhD, described Young as an exceptional ambassador for the institution and its mission.

“Whether advocating for fellow physicians in Austin, caring passionately for his patients, who have come to consider him a trusted friend and adviser or guiding students as they become exceptional healthcare providers, he brings a heart of service to everything he does,” Rice-Spearman said. “His impact extends far beyond the Panhandle, and he has been an inspiration to so many.”

That impact has long extended into organized medicine. Young has intentionally made involvement in TAFP and the Texas Medical Association part of his professional life, arguing that physicians can make time to participate if they want their firsthand experiences to help shape health policy.

When TAFP profiled Young after naming him the 2018 Texas Family Physician of the Year, he talked about organized medicine as something physicians need to make time for — and show up for.

“Everybody’s busy, no one has time to get involved,” Young said at the time. “You just literally have to prioritize it, decide it’s important and that you’re going to do it.” He encouraged physicians to “show up” and bring their own experiences to the discussion, saying those perspectives can help colleagues refine ideas and develop more effective solutions.

Young’s own advocacy has focused heavily on strengthening the primary care workforce, expanding graduate medical education and improving access to care. Through his work with TAFP and TMA, he helped develop recommendations later incorporated into state legislation that contributed to an approximately 45% increase in graduate medical education funding. He also helped develop model legislation improving licensure pathways for international medical graduates and proposals that formed the basis of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board’s Graduate Medical Education Expansion Grant Program.

He has also held leadership positions within TAFP, TMA, and the American Medical Association and was elected to serve on the TMA Board of Trustees. He previously chaired TMA’s Councils on Medical Education and Socioeconomics.

Young’s academic accomplishments include more than 30 peer-reviewed publications and invited presentations before regional, national, and international audiences. At TTUHSC, he has received the Dean’s Clinical Teaching Award, the Dean’s Distinguished Service Award, and multiple teaching awards from students and residents. The School of Medicine named him a Distinguished Alumnus in 2011. 

For Young, however, the new honor remains closely tied to the work and relationships that have defined his career.

“At TTUHSC, I found a career that is purpose-built for service to our patients, our students, our colleagues, and our West Texas communities,” he said. “Our work has both immediate and enduring impact, helping our friends and neighbors navigate the complexities of our healthcare system, while cultivating, supporting, and developing the next generation of doctors and other health professionals to do the same.”

AstraZeneca, one of TAFP’s Partners in Health, recently released a COPD Checklist: A Tool for Optimizing Patient Care.

This checklist is based on the 2026 GOLD Report and can be useful when considering a Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) diagnosis in patients with dyspnea, chronic cough to sputum production, frequent lower respiratory tract infections, and/or a history of exposure to risk factors. Additionally, included on the infographic are strategies for initial management and pharmacological treatment, patient education, and quality standards for COPD care.

TAFP’s Partners in Health program connects family physicians with organizations committed to supporting family medicine and promoting the health of all Texans. Our Partners provide patient education and high-value tools designed to help family physicians and their care teams deliver well-coordinated, comprehensive primary care. Go to Partners in Health to learn more.

In 2023 TAFP officially launched the High School Wellness Graduation Cord Project, a brainchild of the Council on Health of the Public. The community outreach project was initially piloted by member Li-Yu Mitchell, MD, in Whitehouse, Texas. The program gives family docs another way to be active in their communities and encourages high school seniors to take matters into their own hands when it comes to their health and wellness. Mitchell presented the idea to the council after discussing it with her local SHAC in Whitehouse. 

“The state does not require students to take health class for graduation,” Mitchell says. “Our SHAC felt that there were basic health concepts that students still needed to be exposed to prior to graduation and so the honor cord project was born.”

Through the program, members collaborate with their local school districts and School Health Advisory Councils to help graduating seniors meet specific health-related requirements to earn a TAFP honor cord to wear at graduation. Honor cords recognize special distinctions or student accomplishments and are often highly sought after by graduates. 

What’s a SHAC?

Texas law requires every school district to have a SHAC, a group typically made up of mostly parents plus community stakeholders. Mitchell feels strongly about local family physicians joining their SHAC to help school districts navigate various health topics and situations. “For example, during most legislative sessions, the Texas Legislature seems to create new health-related mandates that school districts have to implement,” Mitchell says. “Family physicians are well-equipped to weigh in on how these are implemented, which may mean reviewing some of the prospective curriculum to help the school choose the right vendor to administer them, or assisting the district in navigating the repercussions of new rules.”

With kids going back to school this month, now is the perfect time to not only get involved in your SHAC, but also to present the project to your SHAC and district. Marketing the program to students typically starts in the early spring, giving seniors a few months to complete the requirements. 

How does the program work?

The Council on Health of the Public set a required rubric that students must complete to earn their cords. Requirements include a number of wellness-related tasks that will set them up to be healthy adults, including:

• Having up-to-date immunizations (alternatively, students can demonstrate that they’ve been educated on various vaccines by reviewing information and answering relevant questions);
• Seeing a dentist;
• Completing a food/nutrition diary;
• Having an annual physical;
• Writing a brief on volunteer service; and
• Watching three short videos on relevant health topics and completing a short quiz on each video (topics include stress management, exercise and nutrition, alcohol abuse, smoking and vaping, and more).

TAFP provides graduation cords for the district which are typically presented to seniors who completed the program just before graduation. 

“I would love for this to be a project more school districts decide to embrace,” Mitchell says. “It's such a great way for family physicians to offer a turnkey project to their communities that improves the health literacy of their young adults.”

Click here to learn more about the program and contact Samantha White at swhite@tafp.org to begin the process.

AAFP’s annual FUTURE conference for students and residents was held last week in Kansas City, Missouri, and the TAFP and Texas representation did not disappoint. Thousands of medical students and family medicine residents traveled from across the country to network and learn, including more than 130 from Texas. Check out some photos of TAFP in action here.

The TAFP Foundation funded 17 medical students as well as resident leaders to travel to Kansas City and experience all the conference had to offer. Additionally, 25 family medicine residency programs from Texas were in the expo hall, meeting students from across the country, hopefully recruiting them for the Texas family medicine physician workforce.

TAFP hosted a Texas-themed networking social Thursday evening for all Texas attendees and as always, we had lots of attendees and fun. Around 130 Texans attended including medical students, residents, and residency faculty, as well as students from elsewhere who are interested in Texas residency programs. This allowed for even more time outside the expo hall for networking and socializing. 

TAFP received a grant from the AAFP Foundation to throw the social through their Family Medicine Chapter Alliance program. Since 2006, the FMCA Grant Awards program has provided over $1.6 million to support projects of constituent chapters nationwide. Funding for the program is provided by generous donors. If you’d like to contribute, make a donation to the AAFP Foundation and select "Chapter Grants" as the designation. 

Friday morning, the Family Medicine Interest Group from the University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy School of Medicine was honored as one of AAFP’s overall Program of Excellence Award winners. FMIGs give medical students the opportunity to learn more about the specialty of family medicine and teach them leadership skills. AAFP’s annual awards are given to groups for the work they do to promote family medicine at their medical schools and within their communities.

Three medical students and two residents from Texas attended FUTURE through the AAFP Foundation’s Family Medicine Leads Emerging Leader Institute. The year-long program works to increase the number of family medicine leaders in the healthcare workforce. 

• Rinka Ko, second-year student at UNT Health Fort Worth — Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Meyer Maddox, fourth-year student at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine
• Nima Rahman, fourth-year student at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin
• Sanjna Jagani, MD, PGY-2 at DHR Health Family Medicine Residency
• Erica Munoz, DO, PGY-2 at TIGMER Community-Based Family Medicine Residency Program

TAFP delegates attended their respective congresses, taking time to work on their resolution writing skills and gain experience serving in leadership roles. Thank you to these delegates for volunteering and attending.

• Kaylee Grigsby, McGovern Medical School, TAFP Student Delegate to AAFP Student Congress
• Magdalena Shen, Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, TAFP Student Alternate Delegate to AAFP Student Congress
• Mohit Sharma, MD, SHSU Family Medicine Huntsville, TAFP Resident Delegate to AAFP Resident Congress
• Olga Pudovka Gross, MD, TTUHSC Family Medicine Residency — Amarillo, TAFP Resident Alternate Delegate to AAFP Resident Congress

Additionally, Texas residents and students also had four posters accepted to the National Conference Poster Competition. Their posters were on display throughout the entirety of the conference, giving their research quite a bit of exposure.

• Impact of a Data-Driven, System-Based Intervention on Ambulatory Medication Harm (Research) Shana-Kay Lambert-Johnson, MD | Medical City Fort Worth
• Amigos En Medicina: A Student-Led Free Clinic Addressing Barriers to Osteoarthritis Care in a Predominantly Hispanic Community (Community Project) Larissa Garza and Arcadio Salinas | University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
• Assessment of the Impact of Self-Regulated Learning Component on Student Knowledge Retention in Family Medicine Procedural Workshops (Educational Program) Nicole Kuo and Athena Berreles-Luna | UT Medical Branch 
• Building Capacity: Forensic Medical Evaluations in Central Texas (Educational Program) Nima Rahman | Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin

As always, the energy and excitement for the future of family medicine was palpable throughout the conference. TAFP enjoys seeing so many programs and students represent Texas at FUTURE every year and appreciate the time taken to interact with the Academy. 

Jennifer Fan, MD, MPH, FAAFP, never planned for an administrative mix-up to shape her career. But during a study abroad program in Argentina, she was accidentally placed with a family recovering from addiction at a drug rehabilitation center. The experience opened her eyes to the lasting effects of poverty and limited access to resources, inspiring her to pursue a career in medicine and, ultimately, family medicine. Fan completed a dual MD/MPH degree program at Paul Foster School of Medicine in El Paso and her family medicine residency at Baylor Scott and White in Round Rock. She also did a hospice and palliative medicine fellowship at Baylor Scott and White in Temple, the same program where she now serves as associate program director. Fan is also the associate program director for the MD/MPH program at Baylor College of Medicine.

Who or what inspired you to become a family physician?
I chose family medicine because I saw it as the field with the best ability to impact change in an individual’s health, a family’s health, and societal health. Drs. Charmaine Martin, Kathryn Horn, and Richard McCallum were great mentors to me during my medical school years, modeling service through volunteerism at free clinics and compassion combined with excellence at the bedside, and encouraging my involvement in organized medicine through the Texas Medical Association.

Physician well-being and helping your colleagues avoid burnout are passions of yours. Why is that work significant to you in your career?
Sustainability for ourselves is the sustainability and future of medicine. We have to be well ourselves in order to help others. My current team at work has taught me this — albeit sometimes the hard way — as we show up every day to give physically, emotionally, and spiritually to the sickest patients and their families. Some days I have to admit “I don’t got this” and need help from my team on tough cases. What I like the most about principles of well-being is being able to help medical students and residents see humility as a strength and human limitations as normal.

Why do you choose to be a TAFP member?
Medicine helps you impact change one patient at a time. Being involved with organized medicine enables you to enable positive change at the level of society. I also enjoy the camaraderie of other like-minded physicians.

What do you enjoy doing outside of medicine?
I recently obtained my 200-hour yoga teacher certificate and have started teaching classes for the residents after work hours in our hospital library. Additionally, I enjoy a weekly board game night with friends, international travel with my husband, and am trying to learn Mandarin with Duolingo.

TAFP’s Member of the Month program highlights Texas family physicians in TAFP News Now and on the TAFP website. We feature a biography and a Q&A with a different TAFP member each month and his or her unique approach to family medicine. If you know an outstanding family physician colleague who you think should be featured as a Member of the Month or if you’d like to tell your own story, nominate yourself or your colleague by contacting TAFP by email at tafp@tafp.org or by phone at (512) 329-8666. 

The Texas Medical Board now requires physicians renewing their licenses to submit documentation verifying U.S. citizenship or lawful presence before they can access the online renewal system. The board advises physicians to allow at least 15 business days — approximately three calendar weeks — for the documentation to be processed, making it important to begin well before your license expiration date.

According to the TMB, renewal applications remain pending until the required documentation has been reviewed and approved. Physicians will not be able to access the online renewal system until that review is complete.

Because document review is performed manually, physicians are encouraged to submit their documentation as early as possible. Waiting until the final weeks before a license expires could delay access to the renewal system and increase the risk of an expired license.

The TMB accepts a variety of documents to verify lawful presence. You can consult the board's guidance to determine which documents are acceptable and whether additional documentation is required.

The board also notes that some forms of documentation — such as a valid U.S. passport or a birth certificate submitted with an unexpired driver's license or Texas License to Carry — may exempt a physician from reverification at future renewals. Other forms of documentation may require reverification. 

Complete information about the lawful presence verification requirement, including acceptable documentation, submission instructions, and frequently asked questions, is available on the Texas Medical Board's website: Texas Medical Board: Lawful Presence Verification Requirement.

The 2027 Medicare physician fee schedule proposed rule is out, and 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; and
• Request information on redesigning primary care payment under the fee schedule to better support preventive, comprehensive care.

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:

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 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

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

AAFP submitted comments to the White House Office of Management and Budget 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. 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. 

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. 

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 has issued an interim final rule implementing Medicaid work reporting requirements. 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: 

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, 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: 

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, 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. 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)
• 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

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

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, 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, AAFP President.

For the latest policy updates impacting family medicine, follow us at @aafp_advocacy.

The summer season brings school breaks, longer days, and asthma flare-ups. Asthma is a yearlong condition, but the heat, humidity, ozone pollution, and more make it a challenge for asthma sufferers.

AstraZeneca, one of TAFP’s Partners in Health, recently shared a set of resources for family physicians to use including a risk assessment tool, an asthma checklist, and information on implementing AIRQ and the checklist into your practice. They’ve also provided a resource on corticosteroid stewardship to help protect patients from potential overexposure to systemic corticosteroids.

TAFP’s Partners in Health program connects family physicians with organizations committed to supporting family medicine and promoting the health of all Texans. Our Partners provide patient education and high-value tools designed to help family physicians and their care teams deliver well-coordinated, comprehensive primary care. Go to Partners in Health to learn more.

The change doesn’t increase physicians’ CME requirements. Instead, it changes how compliance is documented. Under the new system, the Texas Medical Board will verify CME through CE Broker before approving license renewals, making it important for physicians to establish an account and ensure their education is properly recorded.

CME completed by members through the Texas Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Family Physicians is automatically reported to CE Broker. Physicians who earn CME from other providers may need to upload certificates of completion or verify that those providers report credits electronically.

What’s staying the same?

Texas physicians must continue to complete 48 hours of CME every 24 months, including 24 hours of formal AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, AAFP Prescribed, or AOA Category 1-A education. At least two hours must address medical ethics or professional responsibility.

Because family physicians provide direct patient care, they also must complete required education related to pain management and opioid prescribing, as well as human trafficking prevention.

Other CME changes to know

A new nutrition and metabolic health CME requirement takes effect Jan. 1, 2027. Because Texas physicians renew their licenses on a biennial cycle, when the requirement first applies depends on each physician's renewal year. Physicians renewing in 2027 will be the first required to complete the nutrition education requirement.

In addition to the new nutrition requirement, family physicians should be aware of two other changes. Physicians in specialties designated by the Texas Medical Board, including family medicine, must complete a new, one-time Life of the Mother Act course on pregnancy-related medical emergencies before renewing their license if they have not yet completed the course. 

And beginning with renewals on or after Sept. 1, 2026, physicians whose practice includes treating patients in an emergency room setting must complete two hours of CME related to forensic evidence collection.

Getting started with CE Broker

Physicians should create a CE Broker account using their Texas medical license number, then review their course history to confirm which CME credits have already been reported. For education that doesn’t appear automatically, physicians can upload certificates of completion or, when available, have accredited institutions synchronize credits directly with CE Broker.

Before renewing a license, physicians should verify that all required CME appears in their CE Broker record and keep copies of their certificates for their own records.

Do you need a paid account?

No. A free basic CE Broker account satisfies the Texas Medical Board’s reporting requirement.

CE Broker also offers paid subscription levels with additional tracking and reporting features, but those services are optional.

“We’ve heard this question from physicians across the state,” says Jessica Miley, TAFP’s director of CME compliance. “For most family physicians, the free basic account provides everything needed to meet the board’s reporting requirement.”

What family physicians should do now

There’s no reason to wait until renewal season. A few minutes of preparation now can help avoid last-minute surprises.

• Create a free CE Broker account.
• Verify your renewal year.
• Confirm that CME completed through TAFP, AAFP, and other providers is appearing in your account.
• Upload certificates for CME that has not been reported automatically.
• Review your compliance status before beginning the renewal process.

“The easiest way to avoid stress at renewal time is to get your account set up early,” Miley says. “Check your record now, and you’ll have plenty of time to address any issues before your renewal deadline.”

For more information, visit the TMB Continuing Education Tracking page, CE Broker, and the CE Broker support page. 

After completing a joint medical degree and public health program at the UT San Antonio Long School of Medicine, Jennifer Nordhauser, MD, MPH, headed to New Mexico for her family medicine residency training. After that, a hospice and palliative care fellowship at UT Dell led her to the UT Dell Family Medicine Residency Program, where she now serves as faculty and a practicing physician at the CommUnityCare Southeast Health and Wellness Center. Beyond her clinical and academic work, Nordhauser also serves as chair of the Texas Medical Association Young Physician Section and previously served as editor-in-chief of the Texas Family Medicine Research Journal.

Who or what inspired you to become a family physician?
My main role models in medicine growing up in Austin and going to UT were family physicians. Furthermore, when I went to medical school and loved everything, I knew that I wanted a career that would allow me to treat anyone "from womb to tomb" and engage in population health beyond the clinic or hospital walls. Family medicine was a perfect fit for these goals. 

What are your practice passions? 
I am passionate about incorporating palliative principles into primary care, including communication skills, symptom management, and discussions of goals of care in the context of someone's chronic diseases. I also love teaching and introducing medical students and residents to family medicine through both precepting and shadowing. Finally, I am always seeking ways to improve the quality and efficacy of my practice, so I enjoy quality improvement and research projects in collaboration with my students, residents, and peers. 

You were involved with launching the Texas Family Medicine Research Journal last year and previously served as editor-in-chief. How did you get involved with the project and what does the journal hope to accomplish?
My colleague Larry Kravitz, MD, had the original inspiration for a family medicine research journal in Texas and conducted the original needs assessment. After building quite the case that we lack this avenue for research for family medicine attendings and trainees, he brought up the idea to me and offered the editor-in-chief role since I had enthusiasm and prior research and publishing experience. I jumped at the opportunity to further research among our community. 

Together, we built up an editorial board, recruiting members of our local TAFP chapter, Heart of Texas, as well as family medicine attendings, students, and residents from around the state. With Larry as the associate editor-in-chief, Katharina Hathaway, MD, as managing editor, and Tim Heintz as our principal student editor, the journal has flourished over the past year and guided authors through the editing process. Moving forward, we will continue to cultivate and circulate Texas-based family medicine research throughout the state and create a space where newer authors can receive guidance throughout the editing process if needed. 

As a new physician, what has surprised you most about family medicine?
I am frequently surprised by the breadth of what we can do for all our patients as family physicians in the urban setting. After training in a rural area, I thought that moving back to a metropolis would limit my ability to practice procedures, advance care planning and palliative care, women's health, and more, but my faculty team has shown me that we can utilize all of our training to address the needs of our patients. 

Why do you choose to be a TAFP member?
I enjoy serving my colleagues and patients through advocacy and continuing medical education, so TAFP was a natural fit for these interests and to build connections around the state. I started attending TAFP meetings as a medical student and instantly was hooked! 

What do you enjoy doing outside of medicine?
Crochet, drawing, running, board games, escape rooms, cooking, traveling, and spending time with family, especially my six-month-old nephew, Jack! 

TAFP’s Member of the Month program highlights Texas family physicians in TAFP News Now and on the TAFP website. We feature a biography and a Q&A with a different TAFP member each month and his or her unique approach to family medicine. If you know an outstanding family physician colleague who you think should be featured as a Member of the Month or if you’d like to tell your own story, nominate yourself or your colleague by contacting TAFP by email at tafp@tafp.org or by phone at (512) 329-8666. 

DFPS has published a communications toolkit complete with posters, talking points, patient education in English and Spanish, social media graphics and messaging, and more. You can download the complete toolkit and you can order printed materials to be mailed to your office or organization. 

According to DFPS, the toolkit is designed to help organizations spread awareness in their communities with minimal effort. Here’s a list of what’s included along with the department’s suggestions for how to use the materials. 

Poster/flyer (8.5" x 11" and available in color and black-and-white PDF)
Display in waiting or community rooms, exam rooms, front desks, and bulletin boards; include in resident welcome packets or food pantry deliveries; distribute via email or patient portals; and hand directly to clients or patients.

Social media kit (graphics with sample captions)
Post directly to your organization's social media accounts and share in community group pages.

Wallet cards
Place at front desks or intake areas for clients to pick up discreetly, include in client packets or bags, and distribute at outreach events. Particularly useful for organizations serving unhoused individuals, where a small, portable format is easier to carry than a full flyer.

Tip card
Distribute to frontline staff, volunteers, community health workers, and others as a handy reference during client interactions; include in staff onboarding packets; and keep at intake desks and waiting rooms for easy access.

Text, email and newsletter copy
Copy and paste directly into your organization's email newsletters, client communications, partner updates, or patient text alert platforms.

Talking points
Brief frontline staff, volunteers, counselors, nurses, and community health workers before client interactions, and keep on hand at intake desks, shared resource drives, or in staff common areas for quick reference.

FAQ document
Equip staff to answer client questions accurately and confidently, include in staff onboarding materials, and post in staff break rooms or shared drives.

Webinar training videos
Watch previously recorded partner training webinars that walk through the law, the latest research on reaching at-risk mothers, and how to put these materials to use in your specific setting. Two recorded sessions are available on demand. 

• Full training (45 min): Video recording and PPT slides
• Condensed training (20 min): Video recording and PPT slides

To learn more about the Baby Moses/Safe Haven Law, visit the DFPS website. The Baby Moses Hotline is available 24/7 for anyone who needs help. Call or text (800) 392-3352 or chat confidentially at BabyMosesHotline.com.

Why it matters: 

This month, 352 family physicians from over 40 states and the District of Columbia convened in Washington, D.C., for the Family Medicine Advocacy Summit. 

As AAFP president Sarah C. Nosal wrote in a new op-ed in Medscape, “More and more often, physicians no longer view advocacy as something separate from clinical care. They find such a mindset increasingly untenable. When insurers delay treatment, we share the frustration with our patients. When patients cannot afford recommended services, we share the same fears and concerns as the families for whom we care. When communities cannot recruit enough physicians, our patients and physicians pay the price.”

What we’re working on: 

Physicians met with lawmakers and congressional staff to share stories and champion legislative policies that bolster family medicine, including the following.

• Supporting the Chronic Care Management Improvement Act. Medicare patients with multiple chronic conditions face cost-sharing for ongoing care management. As a result, patients delay or skip care, leading to worse outcomes, physicians struggle to deliver proactive, team-based care and patients experience higher long-term costs due to avoidable complications. AAFP members urged Congress to support the Chronic Care Management Improvement Act, which will eliminate cost-sharing for chronic care management services in Medicare. 
• Passing the Medicare Advantage Improvement Act. Medicare Advantage plans are creating barriers to care through prior authorization and lack of transparency. This results in delays in care, increased administrative burden on physicians and confusion for patients. AAFP members urged Congress to strengthen oversight, transparency and accountability within Medicare Advantage.
• Enact the H-1Bs for Physicians and Healthcare Workers Act. AAFP is encouraged by a federal judge’s decision to halt the $100,000 fee on H-1B applications, though much remains uncertain. Family physicians continue to call on Congress to enact the bipartisan H-1Bs for Physicians and Healthcare Workforce Act, which will permanently exempt health care workers and their sponsoring institutions from this fee and preserve access to primary care. This legislation is critical, as it would modernize pathways to enable internationally trained physicians to practice in high-need areas.

Family physicians oppose Medicaid work reporting requirements

Why it matters: 

AAFP is deeply concerned that Medicaid work reporting requirements will result in massive coverage losses for beneficiaries. When patients can access Medicaid, communities are healthier. 

What we’re working on:

• Family physicians have long vocalized concerns that Medicaid eligibility restrictions do not improve employment rates, and states have illustrated that work reporting requirements can actually lead to higher program administrative costs for states, increased medical debt for patients and barriers to care. 

• Presidents from AAFP, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American College of Physicians urged policymakers to protect access to Medicaid and outlined how new Medicaid rules are presenting millions of Americans with barriers to care and more affordability roadblocks. Ensuring people can get care when and where they need it improves health outcomes, lowers costs and strengthens communities.

AAFP to ED: Ensure federal aid policies that support primary care

Why it matters: 

AAFP is urging the Department of Education to protect medical training pathways and preserve access to federal student aid so future physicians, especially those interested in family medicine and practicing in high-need communities, are not discouraged by rising education costs or misleading program evaluations.

What we’re working on: 

• AAFP wrote to the Department of Education in response to a proposed rule aimed at increasing transparency and accountability in higher education programs that receive federal student aid. 
• While the Academy supports efforts to give students clearer information about costs and outcomes, it warned that the proposal does not fully account for the unique timeline of medical education and residency training.
• AAFP urged the Department to preserve protections for medical training programs by recognizing that physicians spend years in residency before reaching full earning potential. 
• Without those adjustments, primary care and other medical programs could be unfairly labeled as low-performing, potentially discouraging students from entering medicine at a time of growing physician shortages. 
• The letter also supports stronger transparency around student borrowing and program outcomes to help future physicians make informed decisions about medical education costs.

Regulatory roundup

Notice of benefit and payment parameters

• The Department of Health and Human Services has finalized new Affordable Care Act marketplace rules for 2027 that are expected to make it harder for some patients to enroll in and maintain coverage. 
• The rule tightens eligibility and income verification, adjusts network adequacy standards and changes how certain plans qualify for marketplace participation, with potential impacts on access to in-network care. 
• While several more restrictive proposals were not finalized following input from groups including AAFP, the final rule is still expected to increase administrative burden and could contribute to broader coverage losses. AAFP will continue monitoring impacts on patients and family physicians.

Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems Proposed Rule

• AAFP submitted recommendations on CMS' proposed hospital payment rule, supporting greater flexibility and alignment across programs while advocating for stronger support for rural hospitals, expanded physician training opportunities, and policies that protect access to care in underserved communities.
• AAFP supports provisions that increase flexibility and better align requirements across programs. However, we raised concerns about potential consequences for rural care access and the primary care workforce. 
• We also urged CMS to strengthen and expand rural graduate medical education opportunities, maintain or extend financial stability supports for rural hospitals and avoid adding administrative burdens that could hinder care delivery. 

National Institutes of Health strategic plan 

• As the National Institutes of Health develops its FY27–FY31 Strategic Plan, AAFP is urging the agency to ensure primary care is reflected in its research priorities. 
• Our recommendations focus on advancing research that improves health across the lifespan, strengthening the workforce and systems that support primary care research and building the infrastructure needed to generate practical evidence that can improve care in real-world settings.

Home and Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set

• The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has proposed updates to its Home and Community-Based Services Quality Measure Set as part of implementing the 2024 Medicaid Access Rule. 
• AAFP emphasized the essential connection between HCBS and primary care and urged CMS to maintain and improve critical measures that track care coordination across settings. 

Interoperability and E-Prior Authorization for Drugs Proposed Rule

• CMS has proposed new requirements to modernize prescription drug prior authorization through greater interoperability and electronic data exchange.
• AAFP supports efforts to reduce the overall volume of prior authorizations, alongside efforts to minimize delays and administrative burden by recommending stronger safeguards around denials and appeals, targeted support for smaller practices and a phased approach that ensures new standards work effectively in primary care before they become mandatory.

What we're reading

AAFP President, Sarah C. Nosal, MD, spoke to Modern Healthcare about prior authorization hurdles. “Taking steps to reduce and simplify these processes is important, but what matters most is whether these commitments translate into meaningful, sustained improvements for patients and clinicians on the ground,” she said. 

MedPage Today highlighted former AAFP president Dr. Steve Furr’s testimony to improve Medicare payment for physicians. 

AAFP president-elect, Kisha Davis, MD, spoke to Healio about how new student loan policies threaten the physician workforce.

AAFP launched a new Primary Care Innovation Network, a national effort to put family physicians at the center of how artificial intelligence is shaping primary care. “AI is already reshaping healthcare — there’s no question about it,” said Steven Waldren, MD, AAFP’s Chief Medical Informatics Officer. “The goal of the PCIN is to ensure family physicians aren’t just reacting to that change, but that they are leading it in ways that improve care, reduce administrative burden and strengthen what matters most in primary care — trusted, continuous relationships between physicians and their patients. Those relationships are essential to ensuring access to affordable, high-quality care for all.”

For the latest policy updates impacting family medicine, follow us at @aafp_advocacy.

Improve Medicare Advantage oversight and patient access

Medicare Advantage now covers more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries. While the program offers important benefits and coverage options, family physicians continue to see persistent challenges that can delay or disrupt patient care, including burdensome prior authorization requirements, inappropriate care denials, and lack of transparency in plan decision-making.

The Medicare Advantage Improvement Act of 2026 would strengthen oversight of Medicare Advantage plans, improve accountability, and help ensure beneficiaries receive timely access to medically necessary care. By supporting this legislation, Congress can help protect patients while preserving physicians' ability to make clinical decisions based on what is best for those they serve.

TAKE ACTION

Reduce barriers to chronic care management

Millions of Medicare beneficiaries live with multiple chronic conditions and rely on ongoing care coordination to manage their health. Chronic care management services, or CCM, help family physicians support these patients between office visits, improving outcomes and reducing avoidable hospitalizations and emergency department visits.

Unfortunately, patient cost-sharing requirements continue to create barriers to participation in CCM services. The Chronic Care Management Improvement Act would eliminate cost-sharing for CCM services under Medicare, making it easier for patients to access the coordinated care they need while supporting more effective management of chronic illness.

TAKE ACTION

Strengthen physician workforce pathways

Communities across the country continue to face physician shortages that limit access to care. International medical graduates play a critical role in meeting workforce needs, particularly in rural and underserved areas where recruiting physicians can be especially challenging.

The H-1Bs for Physicians and Healthcare Workers Act would create a more reliable pathway for qualified physicians and health care professionals to enter and remain in the workforce, helping patients maintain access to timely, high-quality care. Supporting this legislation is an important step toward addressing workforce shortages and strengthening the primary care pipeline.

TAKE ACTION

Asking for a Mom is a Texas public education initiative that provides free, easy-to-understand information in English and Spanish to help Texas women and their loved ones understand pregnancy emergencies, available medical care, and patient rights under Texas law. The initiative seeks to distribute educational materials through healthcare providers, hospitals, and community organizations throughout the state.

“The campaign was created following passage of the Life of the Mother Act and is designed to provide clear, medically informed educational resources that help women and families understand their options and communicate effectively with their healthcare providers during urgent situations,” according to a statement from Asking for a Mom.

The project is supported by a coalition of healthcare and community partners committed to improving maternal health and patient education across Texas. TAFP and the Texas Women’s Healthcare Coalition have joined a number of other organizations as strategic partners of the campaign. 

You can download a pdf of the main pamphlet in English and Spanish and order free printed copies at askingforamom.org/pamphlets. Each first order will also include a letter-size poster that can be displayed at your place of business.

Why it matters: 

Medicare payments to physicians have not kept up with the rising costs of running a medical practice. Congress must modernize the outdated Medicare physician payment system to better support patient care and strengthen primary care practices. Without congressional action, budget neutrality requirements and the lack of inflation-based payment updates will continue to strain physician practices and threaten patient access to care.

What we’re working on: 

Physician compensation should better reflect the value of prevention, health maintenance, early diagnosis and early treatment. These are core services family physicians provide every day. Yesterday, former AAFP president, Steve Furr, MD, testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health for a hearing titled, Examining the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, MACRA, and Opportunities for Payment Reforms. Dr. Furr’s testimony focused on four key areas to improve Medicare payments to physicians.

• Better recognizing and valuing primary care work within the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, which also shapes many value-based payment models.
• Reforming budget neutrality rules that can create competition between physician specialties and limit CMS’s ability to invest across the full range of patient care services.
• Reducing financial barriers for patients by waiving cost-sharing requirements for chronic care management and other primary care services.
• Creating more stable, predictable payment streams for primary care practices so physicians can better tailor care to patients’ needs.

Read Dr. Furr’s full testimony here.

AAFP urges DHS not to stall on visas for IMGs

Why it matters: 

Family medicine relies heavily on international medical graduates to meet patient care needs, but ongoing delays in visa processing are worsening workforce shortages and disrupting care continuity. 

AAFP was encouraged that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it lifted the hold on physician applications but urges the agency to issue further guidance that details how this reversal will be implemented and for Congress to conduct oversight to ensure family physicians can care for their communities.

What we’re working on:

• AAFP led a coalition letter to the Departments of Homeland Security and State urging expedited processing of visa applications and related immigration adjudications for foreign physicians who are essential to the U.S. physician workforce, particularly in underserved and rural communities.
• We have also endorsed the H-1Bs for Physicians and the Healthcare Workforce Act, legislation that would exempt physicians’ sponsoring institutions from the new H-1B $100,000 fee.

Family physicians support legislation to increase primary care investment

Why it matters: 

Investing in primary care remains an essential strategy to lower health care costs, keep people out of hospitals, address chronic conditions and prevent disease early. AAFP endorsed the Prioritizing Primary Care Act (H.R. 8765), introduced by Reps. David Rouzer, Ami Bera, Jen Kiggans and Joe Courtney — four co-chairs of the Primary Care Caucus — which would require all federal health programs to clearly track and report how much money they spend on primary care services. This includes both the total dollars spent and what share of overall health spending goes to primary care.

The bill would also create a federal working group within the Department of Health and Human Services to study how the government can better support primary care. This group would look at ways to increase access to primary care doctors, improve quality of care and encourage more investment in primary care services.

AAFP and SCAN leaders: Making America healthy again requires more than a committee

The government’s new Healthcare Advisory Meeting was held on May 18 to discuss policies to improve the U.S. health care system. In a recent op-ed in Fierce Healthcare, AAFP CEO Shawn Martin and Sachin H. Jain, MD, CEO of SCAN Group and SCAN Health Plan, outlined five bold ideas that challenge both government and industry leaders to rethink what it will actually take to make the country healthier.

1. A call for every sector to look inward and take responsibility for its own role in poor health outcomes
2. A shift from measuring financial performance to measuring what truly matters: health
3. Treating the rebuilding of public trust in science as a national imperative
4. Ensuring technology strengthens rather than erodes the human relationships at the core of health care
5. Re-centering primary care as the foundation of prevention and long-term health

Read the full piece.

AAFP speaks out on student loans 

Why it matters: 

AAFP continues to advocate for federal student loan policies that support the physician workforce and strengthen pathways into primary care. Reducing the financial burden of medical education can help more students choose careers in family medicine and other primary care specialties, especially in underserved and rural communities where access to care is often limited. We also remain steadfast in our advocacy efforts to support policies that expand loan repayment and forgiveness opportunities for physicians who commit to serving high-need populations.

What we’re working on:

• AAFP continues to engage with the Department of Education following the release of the RISE final rule, raising concerns about provisions that could restrict access to federal student loans for medical students and residents. 
• We are working closely with partners and key stakeholders to better understand the rule’s implementation timeline and identify opportunities to reduce disruptions for current and future borrowers before it takes effect on July 1, 2026. 
• AAFP is also highlighting the potential impact on the primary care workforce, particularly concerns that eliminating Graduate PLUS loans and imposing new borrowing limits could make it harder for students from lower-income backgrounds to pursue careers in family medicine. 
• In addition, AAFP supported the bipartisan Congressional Review Act resolution led by Sen. Tim Kaine and Rep. Joe Courtney to overturn a recent rule affecting the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. 
• We remain concerned that the PSLF rule would allow the Department of Education to disqualify certain employers from the program, creating uncertainty for family physicians currently participating in, or considering, the PSLF program.

Family physicians urge Congress to oppose ECAPS

The Ensuring Community Access to Pharmacist Services, or ECAPS Act, is seeing renewed movement in Congress. The bill would add pharmacists as eligible Medicare Part B providers for testing and treating conditions such as COVID-19, RSV, strep throat, influenza and future public health emergency-related illnesses. Proposed legislation is also projected to cost Medicare an estimated $2 billion, funding that could instead support primary and preventive care services.

AAFP continues to express concerns about the potential impacts on care coordination, continuity of care and patient safety for Medicare beneficiaries. We remain committed to working with Congress to instead advance policies that promote nationwide access to high-value, physician-led care, such as by allowing family physicians to be able to administer all recommended vaccines to seniors under Part B.

What we're reading

AAFP EVP and CEO Shawn Martin spoke to the Washington Examiner about how AI can help doctors, but there must be guardrails. “I still think there’s a humanism all about family medicine and primary care, that it’s going to be a one-to-one relationship for a long time, hopefully forever,” he said.

AAFP told Becker’s that “Physicians and medical trainees are indispensable to the nation’s health care infrastructure. We are encouraged that UCSIS has reversed the visa freeze for international medical graduates and look forward to the agency issuing further guidance that details how this reversal will be implemented. As we wrote in our April 8 letter to the Departments of State and Homeland Security, prolonged visa processing delays and indefinite adjudicative holds are forcing physicians to abandon residency programs and leaving already strained communities without access to care.” 

Reps. Kim Schrier and John Joyce introduced the bipartisan Strengthening Vaccines for Children Program Act. AAFP president, Sarah C. Nosal, MD, said in a joint press release, “As a family physician, I see every day how vaccines protect children from serious, preventable diseases. This bill takes important steps to make vaccines more accessible, support the time we spend counseling families, and ensure more children get the care they need. Expanding and supporting immunization programs like Vaccines for Children is one of the most effective ways we can keep our communities healthy.”

For the latest policy updates impacting family medicine, follow us at @aafp_advocacy.

For Diana Medina Galvan, MD, family medicine has always been about building meaningful relationships and delivering truly patient-centered care. After years practicing in traditional clinical settings, she developed a deep appreciation for comprehensive primary care while recognizing the challenges that time constraints and administrative demands can place on the physician-patient relationship. That experience inspired her to launch Luminous Health and Wellness in 2019, a direct primary care practice in Houston designed around longer visits, greater access, and personalized care. Today, she combines her expertise as a board-certified family physician and obesity medicine physician to help patients improve their overall health, with a special focus on metabolic health and perimenopause and menopause care. 

Who or what inspired you to become a family physician?
Family medicine appealed to me because it combines breadth, continuity, and trust. I was inspired by the idea of being the physician who can care for an entire family across seasons of life, and who can partner with patients over years, not just a single visit. I also valued the ability to blend preventive care, chronic disease management, and lifestyle-based medicine into one specialty.

Congratulations on opening your own private practice! How is it going?
It has been both challenging and deeply rewarding. Building a clinic from the ground up taught me to be intentional about the kind of care I wanted to deliver, the systems that support it, and the community I wanted to serve. I am proud of the patient relationships we have built and the outcomes we are seeing, especially when patients feel heard, supported, and empowered.

What are your practice passions?
My passions include prevention, metabolic health, obesity medicine, and caring for women through perimenopause and menopause with evidence-informed, individualized treatment. I also care deeply about patient education, helping patients understand their bodies and options, and creating a clinical environment that is calm, respectful, and judgment free.

You are building a social media following as a family doc. What made you begin that journey? 
I started because I realized many patients are getting health information from social media, whether we participate or not. I wanted to provide clear, evidence-informed education in a way that is approachable and empowering. It has also become a way to advocate for patient-centered care, normalize conversations around menopause and weight stigma, and help people understand that family medicine can be both comprehensive and highly specialized in areas like metabolic health.

Why do you choose to be a TAFP member?
I value being connected to a professional community that advocates for family physicians and patients across Texas. TAFP helps ensure that the voice of family medicine remains strong. I also appreciate the opportunity to connect with colleagues who share a commitment to excellent, broad-scope care.

What do you enjoy doing outside of medicine?
Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my family, crafting, listening to podcasts, and being involved in community activities.

TAFP’s Member of the Month program highlights Texas family physicians in TAFP News Now and on the TAFP website. We feature a biography and a Q&A with a different TAFP member each month and his or her unique approach to family medicine. If you know an outstanding family physician colleague who you think should be featured as a Member of the Month or if you’d like to tell your own story, nominate yourself or your colleague by contacting TAFP by email at tafp@tafp.org or by phone at (512) 329-8666. 

Sanjna Jagani, MD, is a second-year resident at the DHR Health Family Medicine Residency, located on the US-Mexico border. Erica Munoz, DO, is a second-year resident at the TIGMER Community Based Family Medicine Residency Program in San Antonio.

Meyer Maddox is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine. Nima Rahman is a fourth-year medical student at Dell Medical School at The University of Texas at Austin. Rinka Ko is a second-year medical student at the UNT Health Fort Worth Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, and will begin serving as TAFP’s student chair-elect this summer.

“Texas has had a number of great leaders come out of this program in recent years, and we're excited to have these five up-and-coming leaders join the ranks as scholars in 2026,” says TAFP Membership and Workforce Development Manager Juleah Williams.

These students and residents will receive a scholarship to attend AAFP’s FUTURE conference this summer in conjunction with a session of the leader institute program. Throughout the yearlong program, they will attend in-depth workshops focusing on topics like policy, project management, and philanthropy, while working with a volunteer family physician mentor to create a leadership project of their choosing.

Family Medicine Leads is the AAFP Foundation’s Education Signature Program, focusing on supporting the future of the specialty and its workforce by increasing the number of family physician leaders with the best and brightest in the field.

Growing up in rural Jamaica, Shana-Kay Lambert-Johnson, MD, witnessed firsthand the vital role trusted physicians play within their communities — an experience that continues to shape her approach to medicine today. As chief resident for the Family Medicine Residency Program at Medical City Fort Worth, she now cares for diverse patient populations across both inpatient and outpatient settings while also pursuing interests in medical education, patient safety, and quality improvement. Lambert-Johnson is just about to complete residency and says she hopes to be “someone who provides thoughtful care while also contributing to the growth and support” of those around her.

Who or what inspired you to become a family physician?
What first drew me to family medicine were the relationships I saw physicians build with patients and families over time. Growing up in Jamaica, I saw family physicians serve not only as clinicians, but also as advocates, educators, and trusted figures within their communities. That continuity and sense of connection left a lasting impression on me.

As I went through training, I realized how naturally I connected with the culture of family medicine itself. I enjoyed the variety within the specialty, the collaborative environment, and the ability to care for patients across different settings while still building long-term relationships. It felt like the specialty that best aligned with both my interests and my personality.

Congratulations on the AAFP Award for Excellence in GME you won last year! Tell us about the work you did with the clinic guide that contributed to your winning the award.
The project grew out of conversations with medical students beginning their third year and stepping into their first hands-on clinical experiences in family medicine. They were incredibly motivated and capable, but like many of us entering a new clinical environment for the first time, they were learning how to balance studying, presentations, documentation, workflow, team dynamics, and patient care all at once.

I created a resident-led Family Medicine Clinic Guide focused on the practical lessons we often learn through experience during rotations. It included workflow tips, documentation guidance, communication strategies, and advice shaped directly by resident and student feedback.

The most rewarding part was hearing students say they felt more confident and prepared walking into clinic. It reminded me how meaningful small acts of mentorship and support can be during training.

What are your career plans once you complete residency?
After residency, I’ll be working as a hospitalist while continuing as teaching faculty within my residency program. I’m excited to stay involved in both patient care and medical education.

I also hope to continue growing in areas like quality improvement and systems-based care, while remaining open to future opportunities in physician leadership. Right now, I’m most looking forward to continuing my career in the same community that played such a meaningful role in my own training.

What’s some advice you wish you would’ve received in medical school? What about residency?
In medical school, I wish someone had told me earlier that you do not need to know everything to belong in medicine. I think many students quietly struggle with self-doubt, especially in environments where everyone around them seems confident. Over time, I learned that growth matters more than perfection. Being curious, teachable, dependable, and kind will take you much further than pretending to have all the answers.

In residency, I learned that sustainability matters. Training teaches you how to work hard, but it is just as important to learn how to ask for help, communicate well, prioritize your time, and make space for rest.

I would also encourage both medical students and residents to say yes to opportunities that genuinely align with their passions and values. Many of the projects and experiences that shaped my career started as small conversations or volunteer opportunities that eventually grew into something much bigger than I expected.

Why do you choose to be a TAFP member?
One of the things I value most about TAFP is the sense of community it creates. As a resident, it gave me opportunities to connect with physicians and mentors from across Texas, learn about different career paths within the specialty, and present scholarly work in a supportive environment.

I also appreciate how invested TAFP is in students and residents. Organizations like TAFP help young physicians develop confidence, leadership skills, and professional relationships early in their careers, and I’ve personally benefited from those experiences throughout residency.

As I transition into the next phase of my career, I look forward to continuing to lean into the TAFP community for both professional growth and a continued sense of connection throughout my medical journey. I’m also excited to find opportunities to pay it forward through mentorship, teaching, and supporting students and residents the same way others generously supported me along the way.

What do you enjoy doing outside of medicine?
Outside of medicine, I really enjoy cooking, especially Jamaican food and exploring different cuisines. Cooking has always been a creative outlet for me and a way to stay connected to home and culture. I find it relaxing, especially after a busy week.

I also enjoy traveling, trying new experiences, and spending time with family and friends. Anything interactive or team-oriented, like escape rooms or game nights, is usually something I’m excited to do because it gives me a chance to disconnect from work and just enjoy being present with people I care about.

Texas was represented well by TAFP members at AAFP’s National Conference of Constituency Leaders last month. Several Texans served as leaders and were elected as future leaders.

Co-conveners Kenneth Barning, MD, and Joaquin Villegas, MD, planned and assisted in running the constituency caucuses throughout the meeting. They will also serve as member constituency delegates at AAFP’s Congress of Delegates meeting in October.

Additionally, Astrud Villareal, MD, was elected as the women’s constituency co-convener and Camella DeSerto, MD, was elected as the LGBTQ+ constituency co-convener. They will both serve as alternate delegates to AAFP’s Congress of Delegates.

“We had a great group of Texas family physicians at NCCL again this year,” said TAFP Chief Operating Officer Kathy McCarthy. “It was great to see their passion for the specialty and their support of each other in seeking leadership positions and crafting and introducing resolutions.”

Thank you to all of the Texas family physicians who attended this year. Check out TAFP’s Instagram for more photos from the conference.