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Have a minute? Use our Speak Out tool to amplify your voice and help shape the future of family medicine.
Featured Speak Out Campaigns
The Academy’s Speak Out tool enables you to directly contact your state officials, members of Congress, or the Office of the President on the issues that matter most to primary care. Make your voice heard by using our timely, messaging templates, customizable for letters, emails and phone calls. Other ways to get involved >
Congress recently passed a government funding bill that failed to provide any relief to offset the cut to Medicare physician payment set to go into effect on January 1, 2025.
Encourage your lawmakers to pass legislation that would show support for primary care investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
The AAFP’s powerful advocacy gains force when you add your voice to the fight for family medicine. Each of the Academy’s 130,000 family physicians — including you — is a constituent, a respected community member and a health care authority. When you use the AAFP’s resources to engage with your lawmakers, you exert real influence and amplify the Academy’s work to shape federal and state policies favorable to your practices and your patients. Here’s how easy it is.
Yes! Federal and state lawmakers use these letters to gauge which issues are most urgent within their districts and, in cases of controversy, where their constituents stand. Congressional offices often have multiple full-time staff members who tally emails and letters.
All of the AAFP’s pre-written letters available through our Speak Out tool can be edited, and we encourage your additions. Including your personal story in a letter will deepen your lawmaker’s understanding of the issue.
The AAFP’s Speak Out tool provides talking points and contact information so that you can call your member(s) of Congress.
Typically, you’ll reach a staff member, who will make a note of your request. These phone calls will be very short so it is important to clearly state
- that you are a constituent,
- the purpose of your call, and
- what you would like the lawmaker to do.
If you would like to speak further about the issue, you can ask to speak with the legislative aide handling that issue.
Members of Congress typically have a “contact” section on their websites that includes a form to send an email. It is likely that your state lawmakers have a similar form or otherwise provide an email address.
Additional tips:
- Your letter should be short – no more than 250 words – and direct.
- The opening paragraph should be two sentences. The first should establish your role in the community and make it clear that you’re a constituent. You should then clearly state your stance on a bill or an issue and urge your lawmaker to adopt the same stance. In the second paragraph, briefly use your personal narrative and/or a statistic to support your stance. Finally, re-state your position on the issue and again urge the lawmaker to adopt that position.
- Avoid medical jargon and instead use the professional voice you would use with a patient who has a general understanding of medicine.
- When possible, identify a bill that you either support or oppose and be as specific and direct as possible.
Track Federal Legislation
Monitor congressional bills with the potential to affect family physicians and know where your legislators stand on these issues.
Become a Key Contact
This network pairs AAFP members with congressional leaders and elected officials supportive of priorities of family physicians to champion legislation and public policy.
Join Your State Chapter
Learn where your state stands on important, emerging issues related to primary care. Access toolkits, browse resources related to state advocacy, and connect with your state chapter.
Support FamMedPAC
Help achieve a long-term solution in Medicare physician payment, address the administrative burdens you face daily, and back the next generation of family physicians.