Mississippi Shines at AAFP Congress of Delegates

By Brent Smith, MD, FAAFP/Delegate

The Mississippi Delegation attended the American Academy of Family Physicians Congress of Delegates (COD) in Washington, DC, September 18-21, 2022. This year was an especially challenging year, as the COD dealt with a back log of business from previous virtual COD meetings that needed to be addressed as well as a robust agenda of new resolutions addressing issues as varied as insurance coverage of IVF to updating payment for acupuncture in primary care settings. 

This year’s delegation also faced the challenges of addressing last minute changes, with Dr. Jennifer Gholson stepping into a delegate’s role and Dr. Paul Pavlov assuming the responsibilities of an alternate delegate in addition to his representing the MAFP as President. Beth Embry continued her long-standing role of keeping the delegation informed, on time, and moving, while also connecting and networking with leadership from other state chapters. 

Mississippi Delegation Members

Beth Embry, Chapter Executive

Paul Pavlov, MAFP President and Alternate Delegate

Jennifer Gholson, Delegate

Brent Smith, Delegate

Dustin Gentry, Alternate Delegate

Katie Patterson Resolution

This year’s work was made infinitely more difficult by the loss of our colleague, Dr. Katie Patterson. Katie was not only the senior delegate for the Mississippi Delegation, but she was also a dear friend who passed away only two weeks before the meeting. The Mississippi Delegation worked throughout the COD to honor and preserve her memory, and the reception from delegations from other states was heartfelt and heart-warming. Mississippi also authored and introduced a Resolution of Condolence, which Dr. Gholson testified to on the final day of the Congress. Please take a moment to read this resolution, which eloquently highlights the life and work of an amazing family physician.

Mississippi Resolutions

Mississippi, and in particular Dr. Dustin Gentry, authored, testified, and fought for resolutions introduced on behalf of the family doctors of the State of Mississippi. We are proud to say that several of our resolutions passed, and are aimed at directly improving the practice of medicine for our family doctors. Highlighted resolutions include:

1. Tasking the Academy with developing and advocating for the implementation of metrics by which insurance providers are held accountable to their service and responsiveness to physicians and other healthcare providers. 
2. Asking for increased efforts from the AAFP on reducing the burden of prior authorizations and decreasing the administrative burden on family physicians. 
3. Tasking the AAFP to advocate for the removal of the requirement for a Business Administration Agreement, a technical barrier that prohibits many practices from using a commonly available technology (Apple’s Facetime app) to conduct telehealth visits. 

Healthy debate in reference committees and on the floor of the Congress of Delegates led to our delegation partnering with other chapters, most notably the Michigan delegation, to alter some of the resolutions to address concerns brought during testimony. We hope these successes will lead to further collaboration in future meetings of the COD. 

Other important Resolutions

The Congress of Delegates dealt with several dozen resolutions aimed at topics as varied as climate change, social justice issues, and vaccination. Some important resolutions that were passed asked the AAFP to:

1. Advocate for inclusion of vaccine coverage under Medicare Part A and B. 
2. Advocate for increased funding for safety net hospitals. 
3. Restore the Global Health Summit as a stand-alone meeting. 
4. Increase offerings for training in point of care ultrasound in CME sessions.
5. Advocate with payors to improve payment/access to long-acting contraceptives and coverage for medical assistance with achieving pregnancy. 

Election results

Annually, the Congress is tasked with electing new leaders for the AAFP -- including three at-large directors, a vice speaker, speaker, and a president-elect -- and the delegation is tasked with vetting candidates and voting on behalf of the family doctors of Mississippi.  

This year’s election centered around the President-Elect campaign, as third-year board members Dr. Steve Furr and Dr. Andrew Carroll squared off. Dr. Furr won after a very well-run and thoughtful campaign. Joining Dr. Furr are Doctors Jay Lee, Kisha Davis, and Teresa Lovins as newly-elected Directors for 3-year terms. Dr. Russell Kohl and Dr. Daron Gersch remain AAFP’s Speaker and Vice-Speaker, respectively. Joining them for 1-year terms, are new physician member Dr. Rupal Bhingradia, resident member Dr. Chase Mussard, and student member (our very own) Richard Easterling. 

Announcement of a Mississippi Board of Directors Candidate

On the last day of the Congress, Dr. Gentry announced the candidacy of Delegate Dr. Brent Smith of Cleveland for the American Academy of Family Physicians Board of Directors. Over the course of the next year, [my] campaign for one of three yearly-elected director positions will take place, culminating with a vote at next year’s Congress of Delegates. 

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Self-Nominations Open for AAFP Commissions, AMA Delegation, and ABFM Board of Directors

Nomination forms for AAFP Commissions, AAFP's AMA Delegation, and ABFM Board of Directors positions are available now until Oct. 15, the deadline to apply for these positions.

Anyone interested in applying should contact Beth Embry at MAFP prior to submitting an application.

At the AAFP's December 8 meeting, the Board of Directors will fill 33 commission vacancies on eight AAFP commissions, two AMA Delegation positions created by expiring terms of members, and five nominees to be submitted to ABFM for their Board of Directors. Notification letters will be sent out Dec. 12.