April 2026
Wesley G. Bradford, MD, MPH
CAFP’s Sponsored Bill AB 2651 would require notification when school vaccination rates fall below safe levels, helping families to protect their children from preventable outbreaks. AAFP (https://www.aafp.org/) has developed a suite of resources tailored to support physicians in making confident, evidence-based vaccine recommendations and to support a productive dialogue with patients. AAFP’s Immunization Schedules are listed on CAFP’s website: https://www.familydocs.org/vaccines/
A federal court temporarily halted the appointments of the newly-appointed ACIP members and blocked the implementation of their recently-changed federal vaccine recommendations, including their updated childhood immunization schedule. This ruling ensures that the ACIP recommendations as of April 2025 remain covered by private insurers, CMS, and the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. The AMA will spearhead an independent, evidence-based vaccine review system, the “Vaccine Integrity Project.” It will focus first on influenza, COVID-19 and RSV vaccine safety and effectiveness ahead of the next respiratory virus season.
Federal budget cuts have led to a $50 million shortfall in LA County, resulting in the closure of 7 public health clinics in LA. Measles cases have been increasing this year, increasing the public health caseload burden. The California Department of Public Health continues to promote evidence-based vaccine recommendations.
CAFP has joined the California Primary Care Association to oppose a new initiative on the 2026 General Election ballot. The initiative would impose stringent spending regulations on financially vulnerable health centers that care for millions of low-income Californians.
US HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr announced a major push to expand nutrition education in medical training with a partnership with over 50 US medical schools. Participating schools have agreed to require students to complete at least 40 hours of nutrition education, or an equivalent competency, beginning in the fall 2026 semester.
All physicians prescribing for Medi-Cal beneficiaries must immediately confirm their Medi-Cal FFS enrollment or begin the multi-month enrollment process to avoid denied claims, payment denial for pharmacies, and disrupted patient care after the deadline, June 26.
The Federal budget has included finalizing Medicare payment stability for family physicians, reauthorizing funding for community health centers and the National Health Service Corps, preserving access to telehealth, and authorizing the Health Care Provider Protection Act (addressing provider burnout and mental health). The budget does not include an extension of the enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium tax credits, which expired at the end of 2025 and has resulted in many dropping their health care insurance due to unaffordability.
AAFP information on many healthcare topics is at https://www.aafp.org/advocacy.html.
