FFFM | March 2026 Advocacy Rounds

David Tully, AAFP vice president of government relations, recaps the AAFP's March 2026 advocacy efforts. Academy EVP and CEO Shawn Martin testified before Congress on how underinvestment fuels workforce shortages, longer waits and practice closures. Chronic disease drives 90% of the $4.9 trillion the US spends on health care each year, but primary care receives less than 5% of those funds. With that in mind, the AAFP urged Congress to improve patients' access and costs by making primary care affordable, supporting science-based vaccine policy, advancing targeted tax policies, protecting medical student loans (including the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program) and funding the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality at $500 million. Topics by Timestamp 00:00 March advocacy recap 00:35 Primary care underfunding 01:48 Capitol Hill meetings 02:03 Affordable access message 02:42 Science-based vaccine policy 03:03 Tax incentives to improve the PC workforce 03:37 Student loan protections 05:23 AI principles in care 07:35 Fund AHRQ research 08:48 Closing and resources Additional Resources Six ways Congress can make health care affordable for doctors and patients Joint Letter in Support of Fiscal Year 2027 AHRQ Funding - 030226 AAFP Comments to ASTP-ONC on HTI-5 PR - February 25, 2026 The Starfield Signal: A Shared Vision and Roadmap for AI in Primary Care Health IT End-Users Alliance Response to ASTP-ONC on HHS Health Sector AI RFI - February 20, 2026 AI Is in the Doctor's Bag—And Primary Care Is Ready to Use It | Rock Health AAFP Response to Education Department on RISE PR - February 24, 2026 AAFP Letter to Education and Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Development Hearing on Cost of Higher Education – February 18, 2026 Health Subcommittee: Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of the U.S. Provider Landscape Disclaimer: Copyright 2026, AAFP. The views presented in this broadcast are the speaker's own and do not represent those of AAFP. The information presented is for general, educational, or entertainment purposes and should not be considered legal, health, financial, or other advice. The AAFP makes no representation as to the accuracy or completeness of the information and is not responsible for results that may arise from its use. Consult an appropriate professional concerning your specific situation and respective governing bodies for applicable laws. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by AAFP unless specifically stated otherwise. AAFP and the AAFP logo are registered trademarks of American Academy of Family Physicians.