My fellow Maryland family physicians,

As we welcome August, many of us are enjoying the final weeks of summer before fall's routines return. This month also marks the halfway point of my presidency, and I remain deeply grateful for your trust and the opportunity to advocate on behalf of family physicians across our state. As summer gives way to fall, the Maryland General Assembly will soon begin preparing for another legislative session. While we enjoy these final weeks of warmer weather, we also begin looking ahead to the important policy discussions that will shape the future of healthcare in Maryland.

Workforce shortages continue to affect nearly every community in our state, leading to longer wait times, reduced access to care, and increased strain on physicians and healthcare teams. These shortages stem from interconnected challenges - from the number of family medicine residency positions to administrative burdens, declining reimbursement, and rising practice costs. Despite these obstacles, family physicians continue to show remarkable resilience and dedication to our patients.

The MDAFP remains committed to addressing these challenges through both long-term advocacy and immediate opportunities for change and one of the most promising is Maryland's implementation of the AHEAD Model (Achieving Healthcare Efficiency through Accountable Design), developed with CMS, supported by the AAFP, and implemented through the Maryland Department of Health. In January 2026, Maryland transitioned from the Total Cost of Care Model to AHEAD, which places greater emphasis on community-based care, health equity, prevention, and stronger investment in primary care.

This transition is a real opportunity for our specialty to have a seat at the table — to share our experience, advocate for our patients, and demonstrate why sustained investment in primary care is essential to Maryland's healthcare future. The model offers three pathways for participation: Infrastructure, Medicare, and Medicaid. I encourage you to learn more and consider getting involved — and if now isn't the right time for your practice, keep an eye on opportunities in 2027.

Learn more: https://health.maryland.gov/mdpcp/Pages/AHEAD-Model.aspx

Thank you for all you do every day for your patients, your communities, and our profession. I wish you a wonderful remainder of the summer, and I look forward to working alongside each of you in the months ahead.

Sincerely,

Gattu Panisri Rao, MD, MPH, FAAFP 

Your MDAFP President