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April 25, 2025
Administration News
ACP Reacts to HHS Staffing Cuts, Reorganization and Cancellation of Federal Grants to State Health Departments
Says these changes will threaten physicians' ability to care for patients.
Advocacy in Action
New ACP President and Chair of the ACP Board of Regents Share Focus on Strengthening the US Health Care System
Their advocacy priorities are reversing the primary care physician shortage, physician payment reform, prescription medicine access, and fighting medical disinformation.
Congressional News and Perspective
ACP Provides Support for Legislation That Would Establish National Long-Term Care Insurance for Older Adults
The WISH Act would create a federal trust fund to pay for ‘catastrophic’ long-term care insurance as an alternative to Medicaid.
Quick Hits
Advocacy News
ACP Letter to ASTP/ONC on Draft United States Core Data for Interoperability Version 6
ACP letter to the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology commenting on the proposed changes to the United States Core Data for Interoperability Version 6 draft.
Joint Comment Letter Regarding Gender-Affirming Care Provisions in the Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule
Joint comment letter in strong opposition to the proposed rule, which would prohibit Medicare and Medicaid coverage of evidence-based treatment of gender dysphoria, creating a dangerous precedent by intruding into the practice of health care and excluding coverage for medically necessary health care from the essential health benefit package without justification.
Joint Letter to Congressional Leaders Opposing Proposed Cuts to Medicaid
Joint letter opposing harmful cuts to the Medicaid program and urging congressional leaders to reject policy proposals that weaken the program and create barriers to care for patients.
ACP Comment Letter Regarding the Marketplace Integrity and Affordability Proposed Rule
ACP letter to HHS Secretary Kennedy commenting on the rule, which includes changes to enrollment periods and processes and the prohibition of gender-affirming care as an essential health benefit beginning in 2026.
Joint Letter to Congressional Appropriators Supporting FY2026 Funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Joint letter in support of continued funding for the CDC's programs and in strong opposition efforts to dismantle the agency or eliminate any of its essential public health programs.
ACP Support Letter for the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act, to Defer Student Loans Interest Free for Medical Residents
ACP letter in support of the REDI Act, S. 942/H.R. 2028, which would allow borrowers to quality for interest-free deferment on their student loans while serving in a medical or dental internship or residency program.
Joint Recommendation for Fiscal Year 2026 Supporting Funding for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical and Prosthetic Research Program
Joint letter recommending increased funding for the VA Medical and Prosthetic Research Program, which will continue important VA work and accelerate research in toxic exposures, mental health, and chronic conditions disproportionately affecting veterans.
Joint Coalition Letter to Congressional Appropriators Supporting Funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for Fiscal Year 2026
Joint letter in support of funding for the NIH, which serves as the foundation for nearly every preventive intervention, diagnostic, treatment, and cure in practice today.
Joint Letter of Support for Raising the Per Resident Allocation (PRA) for the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program
Joint letter expressing support for the PRA increase as an effective long-term funding solution to keeping open Teaching Health Centers, which are a vital response to the primary care physician shortage that place doctors in rural and medically underserved communities where they are needed most.
Joint Letter of Support to Preserve and Protect the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program During the Reconciliation Budget Process
Joint letter in support and urging protection of the PSLF program, which ensures that public service remains an accessible and attainable career path and is a critical investment in our nation's public service workforce
ACP Written Testimony for the Record to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education and Related Agencies for FY2026
ACP testimony urging that funding for HHS be either maintained or increased and expressing concern about the administration's announcements about reducing funds and resources for programs that help protect the nation's health and public health infrastructure.
Joint Letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees Supporting FY2026 Funding for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
Joint letter calling for the full funding in 2026 of AHRQ, which supports research to broaden access to essential services, improve health care quality, reduce costs, advance patient safety, and decrease medical errors.
ACP Support Letter for the Well-Being Insurance for Seniors to be at Home (WISH) Act
ACP letter in support of the WISH Act, which would establish a long-term care insurance system for older Americans—allowing older adults to age at home if they prefer.
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