From L to R Recent graduate from the Medical College of Georgia (MCG) Family Medicine Residency program, Christina Anyikwa, MD, Past President, Bruce LeClair, MD, with GAFP President, Donald Fordham, MD, AAFP Board of Directors, Leonard Reeves, MD

May 20, 2019

The Family Medicine Advocacy Summit (FMAS) is held every spring in Washington, DC. During the two-day event, participants learn about the legislative process, current priorities for family medicine, practice advocacy skills, and meet with members of Washington’s Congressional delegation.

Nearly 300 family physicians visited Capitol Hill to advocate for family medicine for #FMAS19. You can help the fight for family medicine by flooding your legislators’ inbox and speaking out for Teaching Health Centers.

Qualified teaching health centers support the expansion of primary care medical residency training in community-based ambulatory settings. These community-based settings include, but are not limited to

• federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and FQHC Look-Alikes,
• community mental health centers, and
• rural health clinics and health centers operated by the Indian Health Service or an Indian tribe or tribal organization

Show your solidarity and Support Training for the Next Generation of Family Physicians!

Urge policy makers to reauthorize and fully fund the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program.

Sens. Susan Collins (R-ME), and Reps. Raul Ruiz (D-CA) have introduced similar versions of the Training the Next Generation of Primary Care Doctors Act of 2019 (S. 1191/ HR 2815). Both bills reauthorize the THCGME program for five years and support the creation of new programs with a priority for those in rural and underserved communities. The bills would also increase funding from $126.5 million per year (current law) to $141.5 million/year (S.1191) or $151 million/year (HR 2815).

The THCGME program is vital to addressing the shortage of primary care physicians and the geographic maldistribution of physicians.

• Sens. Tester (D-MT), Moore Capito (R-WV), Jones (D-AL), Boozman (R-AR), Manchin (D-WV), Harris (D-CA), and Daines (R-MT) are original cosponsors to the Senate bill.
• Reps. McMorris Rogers (R-WA), Torres Small (D-NM), and Roe (R-TN) are original cosponsors for the House bill.

Tell Congress to support the Training the Next Generation of Primary Care Doctors Act to update the THCGME program immediately.

From L to R Past GAFP President, Mitzi Rubin, MD and U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-Marietta)

Past GAFP President, Mitzi Rubin, MD of Atlanta was the only physician represented at a recent health care roundtable held by U.S. Representative Lucy McBath (D-Marietta) to discuss issues facing clinicians, patients, and advocates in the Sixth District.

Healthcare is a top legislative priority for McBath, who is a two-time breast cancer survivor. McBath is a co-founder of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, which aims to address the health disparities for mothers of color, and a vice-chair of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force. She sits on the House Education and Labor and House Judiciary Committees.

Dr. Rubin was able to discuss key areas of federal legislation for the AAFP and GAFP including:

• Urge Representative McBath to support appropriations for $50 million in FY 2020 for firearm morbidity and mortality prevention research
• Ask Representative McBath to co-sponsor the HB 2774, the Primary Care Patient Protection Act
• The bill modifies the Health Savings Account law to include up to two primary care visits in any high deductible health plan with no cost sharing
• Encourage Representative McBath to join the Congressional Primary Care Caucus