Agenda

7:30–8:00 am: Registration, Breakfast, and Sponsor Mingle – Queen Street Gallery
8:00–8:15 am: Welcome, Introductions & Announcements – Signers Ballroom
T. Ed Evans, MD, FAAFP, AAFP Delegate

8:15–8:45 am: What’s New at AAFP
Sarah Nosel, MD, FAAFP, AAFP President-elect
Vice President for Innovation & Optimization and Chief Medical Information Officer at The Institute for Family Health, a federally qualified health center network with 27+ Mid-Hudson, Bronx, Manhattan, and Brooklyn locations.

8:45–9:30 am: Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Ethics & Clinical Implementation
G. Hamilton Baker, MD
Professor, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC)
Dr. Baker is a congenital cardiologist who is dual board-certified in pediatric and adult congenital heart disease, as well as fellowship trained in interventional cardiology. His current focus is in applied artificial intelligence in medicine, including the application of machine learning, deep learning, computer vision, and other related AI tools. He also launched the MUSC AI Hub.

9:30–10:00 am: Break with Sponsors

10:00–11:00 am: AAFP Federal Legislative Update
Julie Harrison, Senior Manager, State Affairs & Member Advocacy, AAFP

11:00–11:45 am: Drug Pricing, Spending, Affordability, and Access
Robert Popovian, Pharm.D., MS
Founder of the strategic consulting firm Conquest Advisors and chief science policy officer for the Global Healthy Living Foundation. He is also a senior health policy fellow at the Progressive Policy Institute and visiting health policy fellow at the Pioneer Institute, and previously served as vice president, U.S. government affairs, at Pfizer.

11:45–12:15 pm: Open Discussion: Independent Practice Legislation in Southeastern States – Policy Shifts and Health Care Impact
Sara S. “Sally” Rogers, JD, Moderator
This session will explore Southeastern states that have enacted legislation granting full or expanded independent practice authority to nurse practitioners and other advanced practice providers. The discussion will focus on:

• Legislative Changes: Key provisions of the new laws and how they differ from previous scope-of-practice regulations.

• Impact on Health Care Delivery: Shifts in access to care, especially in rural or underserved areas; changes in provider distribution; and patient outcomes.

• Data Collection and Evaluation: Overview of any state-level or academic efforts to monitor outcomes, cost-effectiveness, and workforce trends post-implementation.

• Lessons Learned: Challenges, successes, and insights that may inform future advocacy or policy development.

12:15–1:15 pm: Networking Lunch – (Sponsor Introductions)

1:15–2:15 pm: Key Legislative Issues in the Southeast: Top Priorities from Each Chapter
(Each chapter will highlight its two most significant legislative priorities from the past year.)
Sara S. “Sally” Rogers, JD, Moderator

2:15–2:35 pm: Refreshment Break

2:35–4:00 pm: State Legislative Roundtable Discussions

• Hot Legislative Topics

• Legislative Initiatives – Rallying the Members / Grassroots Advocacy

• Non-Compete Legislation

• Healthcare Workforce Reform - Scope Expansion

• Prior Authorization Reform

4:15 pm: Adjourn – Explore Charleston