The American Academy of Family Physicians is a professional society of physicians and is among the largest health care associations in the United States. Organized as a nonprofit professional association, the organization claims over 130,000 individual family doctors as members in all 50 states as well as U.S. territories. The association generates over $85 million in annual revenue; hosts large conferences and events; and publishes many medical research papers, editorials, and resources for physicians. The group also lobbies on behalf of a variety of state and federal healthcare policies and operates state-level associations in most states that represent the interests of the organization before state governments. ^{1 2}

The group has weighed in on transgender policy issues, issuing a joint statement opposing legislation that does not affirm transgender self-identification. ³

History and Background

The American Academy of Family Physicians was formed in 1947 and was known as the American Academy of General Practice until 1971. The organization serves family physicians and defines family medicine as a “derivative of classical general practice.” The organization advocated for the establishment of family medicine as a primary specialty. Individuals wishing to practice family medicine must take additional examinations and remain members of the organization by taking 150 hours of continuing education every three years. ⁴

The organization’s continuing education programs, events, and large membership base provide significant revenue for the organization. The organization reports 130,000 members across all 50 states and in most U.S. territories and operates state chapters in each state. The group’s headquarters are in Leawood, Kansas, and the group generates over $85 million in annual revenue, employing well over 100 full-time employees. ⁵

AAFP also operates publications, including the American Family Physician, a clinical journal for physicians in primary care with a circulation of more than 180,000 family and other primary care physicians; AAFP News, an all-member news and features publication available online and via email; and FPM, a publication on practice management and socioeconomic issues. ⁶

AAFP also operates the AAFP Foundation and the FamMed PAC, a political action committee that funds congressional campaigns. ⁷

Advocacy

The American Academy of Family Physicians has a large lobbying presence at the federal level, lobbying on dozens of legislative and regulatory issues. The group extensively lobbies the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to influence Medicare regulations. The group also supports enhanced federal tobacco control and promotes left-of-center health equity frameworks. The group advocates that “health care is equitable, accessible, and affordable for all Americans on the belief that equity is a public health issue.” ⁸

Political Action Committee

The American Academy of Family Physicians operates a political action committee, known as the FamMed PAC, that funds candidates for Congress. A relatively large political action committee, the PAC raised over $800,000 in the 2020 election cycle and nearly $700,000 in the 2022 election cycle. The PAC gives to dozens of Democratic and Republican members of Congress, but contributes almost twice as much to Democrats as Republicans. In 2020, the PAC gave $291,000 to Democrats and only $125,000 to Republicans. ⁹

Transgender Issues

At the urging of national LGBT organizations such as GLAAD, the American Academy of Family Physicians issued a joint statement with the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Osteopathic Association stating that “Our organizations, which represent nearly 600,000 physicians and medical students, oppose any laws and regulations that discriminate against transgender and gender-diverse individuals.” ¹⁰

1. “History.” American Academy of Family Physicians. Accessed March 15, 2024. https://www.aafp.org/about/who-is-the-aafp/history-aafp.html
2. “American Academy of Family Physicians.” Nonprofit Explorer. Accessed March 15, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/440536051
3. “Medical Association Statements in Support of Health Care for Transgender People and Youth.” GLAAD. June 21, 2023. https://glaad.org/medical-association-statements-supporting-trans-youth-healthcare-and-against-discriminatory/
4. “History.” American Academy of Family Physicians. Accessed March 15, 2024. https://www.aafp.org/about/who-is-the-aafp/history-aafp.html
5. “History.” American Academy of Family Physicians. Accessed March 15, 2024. https://www.aafp.org/about/who-is-the-aafp/history-aafp.html
6. “History.” American Academy of Family Physicians. Accessed March 15, 2024. https://www.aafp.org/about/who-is-the-aafp/history-aafp.html
7. “Home.” American Academy of Family Physicians. Accessed March 15, 2024. https://www.aafp.org/home.html
8. “AAFP Advocacy Wins.” American Academy of Family Physicians. Accessed March 15, 2024. https://www.aafp.org/advocacy/wins.html
9. “American Academy of Family Physicians: PAC Summary.” OpenSecrets. Accessed March 15, 2024. https://www.opensecrets.org/political-action-committees-pacs/american-academy-of-family-physicians/C00411553/summary/2022
10. “Medical Association Statements in Support of Health Care for Transgender People and Youth.” GLAAD. June 21, 2023. https://glaad.org/medical-association-statements-supporting-trans-youth-healthcare-and-against-discriminatory/