The Commission on Federal and State Policy (CFSP) informs and guides the Academy's federal advocacy program and the AAFP’s support for constituent chapters in their advocacy efforts before state governments. Commission members participate in the following regular activities within the commission’s scope of work:
- Analysis of state and federal legislative and regulatory policy issues impacting family physicians, patients and the health care system.
- Provide recommendations for potential revisions to state and federal legislative and regulatory policy issues that would have a positive impact on family physicians, patients and the health care system.
- Production of white papers and policy position statements aimed at informing and influencing legislative and regulatory policies at the state and federal levels.
- Collaboration with reference committees at the Congress of Delegates to provide expert analysis of proposed resolutions and their alignment with and impact on AAFP legislative and regulatory policies objectives.
- Review of resolutions approved by the Congress of Delegates, National Conference of Constituency Leaders (NCCL) and the Student & Resident Congress.
- Five-year review of relevant AAFP policies.
The work priorities of the Commission would be established by one of two pathways:
- AAFP Board of Directors – the AAFP Board of Directors may direct the CFSP to engage in a project via its deliberative process.
- AAFP Board Chair – state chapters, other AAFP Commissions, AAFP members or AAFP staff may submit a request that the CFSP engage in a project to the AAFP Board Chair for consideration and decision. Recommendations would be submitted to the AAFP CEO for consideration by the Board Chair.
Each project must adhere to the following criteria:
- Direct impact on family physicians and/or the patient care provided by family physicians.
- Direct association with an existing or proposed state and/or federal law or regulation.
- Have broad impact on family physicians (i.e. – not a single state issue).
- Provide a minimum of 6-months for delivery of final product
CFSP provides oversight of a member interest group (MIG) listed below. The MIG can bring forward recommendations for consideration by CFSP.
- Single Payer Health Care MIG
Commission Service Overview
Members serve a two-year term with an option for one two-year extension. Members of the CFSP meet twice each year, January or February in-person along with other commissions in Kansas City, and June virtually. Commission members are expected to attend the Family Medicine Advocacy Summit (FMAS) and the State Legislative Conference (SLC).
One member of the CFSP is assigned to attend the American Medical Association’s State Legislative Strategy Meeting, lasting for three days in January. The Commission has a liaison to the FamMedPAC Advisory Board and to the Member Interest Group on Single Payer Health Care. Finally, the commission chair designates a member to participate on the AAFP’s Working Group on Rural Health (WGRH) which generally meets before the winter cluster of commission meetings in Kansas City.
Reimbursement
The Commission on Finance and Insurance establishes reimbursement policies for commission members. Members are reimbursed:
- A per diem payment when traveling or attending meetings or other events on behalf of the commission.
- Actual travel expenses up to the cost of the lowest refundable coach airfare as well as parking for personal autos and/or transportation between home and airport and airport and meeting sites.
Interested?
If you are interested in nominating yourself for this commission:
- Contact your chapter prior to starting your application.
- Complete the online Commission Nomination Form (available July 15-October 15 each year).
If you are interested in nominating yourself for commission chair (in your final year of service on the commission):
- Contact your chapter prior to starting your application.
- Complete the online Commission Chair Nomination Form (available May 15-August 15 each year).
You can access the Commission Resource Manual for more information here.