Speak Out: Take action on AAFP's 2026 FMAS policy priorities
By AAFP’s Federal Advocacy Team
Whether you attended the 2026 Family Medicine Advocacy Summit or are advocating from home, there are many opportunities to make an impact on the policies affecting family medicine and patient care. During FMAS, family physicians and medical students from across the country met with congressional offices to advocate for AAFP's federal policy priorities. You can reinforce those messages and help keep the momentum going by taking action through the Speak Outs below.
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.
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.
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.