Current Public Policy Papers

 

ACP public policy papers summarize and dissect published research and discussion on current issues involving clinical practice, medical education, bioethics, and health care financing and delivery, and make specific recommendations for internal medicine physicians, patients, and policy makers. Read about ACP's public policy development process.

Learn more about where ACP stands on important and timely issues:

ACP Policy Compendium

Updated December 2024

Download an up-to-date summary of ACP's policy positions. 

Download Compendium

 

Racial Health Disparities, Prejudice and Violence

  • Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Indigenous Communities (2022)
  • A Comprehensive Policy Framework to Understand and Address Disparities and Discrimination in Health and Health Care (2021)
  • Understanding and Addressing Disparities and Discrimination in Education and in the Physician Workforce (2021)
  • Understanding and Addressing Disparities and Discrimination Affecting the Health and Health Care of Persons and Populations at Highest Risk (2021)
  • Understanding and Addressing Disparities and Discrimination in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Affecting the Health of At-Risk Persons and Populations (2021)
  • Racism and Health in the United States: A Policy Statement from the American College of Physicians (2020)
  • Addressing Social Determinants to Improve Patient Care and Promote Health Equity (2018)
  • Position Statement on Recognizing Hate Crimes as a Public Health Issue (2017)

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Health Care Reform/Access

  • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender, Queer and Other Sexual and Gender Minority Health Disparities (June 2024)
  • Meeting the Health and Social Needs of America’s Unhoused and Housing-Unstable Populations (February 2024)
  • Ensuring Equitable Access to Participation in the Electoral Process (December 2023)
  • Health as a Human Right (October 2023)
  • Preparing for Future Pandemics and Public Health Emergencies (July 2023)
  • Modernizing the United States’ Public Health Infrastructure (July 2023)
  • Reproductive Health Policy in the United States (February 2023)
  • Health Care During Incarceration (November 2022)
  • Environmental Health (October 2022)
  • Health Care for Our Nation’s Veterans: A Policy Paper From the American College of Physicians (October 2021)
  • Envisioning a Better U.S. Health Care System for All: Coverage and Cost of Care (January 2020)
  • Envisioning a Better U.S. Health Care System for All: Reducing Barriers to Care (January 2020)
  • Mitigating the Negative Impact of Step Therapy Policies and Nonmedical Switching of Prescription Drugs on Patient Safety (November 2020)
  • Improving the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Insurance Coverage Provisions (April 2019)
  • Women's Health Policy in the United States (May 2018)
  • Addressing Social Determinants to Improve Patient Care and Promote Health Equity (April 2018)
  • Health and Public Policy to Facilitate Effective Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders Involving Illicit and Prescription Drugs: An American College of Physicians Position Paper (May 2017)
  • A Prescription for a Forward-Looking Agenda to Improve American Health Care (May 2017)
  • Addressing the Increasing Burden of Health Insurance Cost Sharing (May 2016)
  • The Integration of Care for Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Other Behavioral Health Conditions into Primary Care (August 2015)
  • State of the Nation's Health Care 2013: A Two-pronged Strategy to Improve American Health Care: Make the Health System More Effective AND Remove Barriers to the Patient-Physician Relationship (February 2013) 

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Payment/Delivery System Reform

  • Reforming Physician Payments to Achieve Greater Equity and Value in Health Care: A Position Paper of the American College of Physicians (June 2022)
  • Beyond the Referral: Principles of Effective, Ongoing Primary and Specialty Care Collaboration (April 2022)
  • Envisioning a Better U.S. Health Care System for All: Health Care Delivery and Payment System Reforms (January 2020)
  • Assessing the Patient Care Implications of "Concierge" and Other Direct Patient Contracting Practices (November 2015)
  • Retail Health Clinics (October 2015)

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Health Information Technology

  • Artificial Intelligence in the Provision of Health Care (June 2024)
  • Health Information Privacy, Protection, and Use in the Expanding Digital Health Ecosystem (April 2021)
  • Policy Recommendations to Guide the Use of Telemedicine in Primary Care Settings (September 2015)
  • Clinical Documentation in the 21st Century (January 2015)

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Medicare and Medicaid

  • Promoting Transparency and Alignment in Medicare Advantage (October 2017)
  • Medicaid Expansion: Premium Assistance and Other Options (March 2016)

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Controlling Costs, Improving Effectiveness

  • Financial Profit in Medicine: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians (September 2021)
  • Improving Health Care Efficacy and Efficiency Through Increased Transparency (2017)
  • Addressing the Increasing Burden of Health Insurance Cost Sharing (2016)
  • Medical Liability (2014)  

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Prescription Drugs and Public Health Related Topics

  • Regulatory Framework for Cannabis: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians (July 2024)
  • Excessive Alcohol Use and Alcohol Use Disorders: A Policy Brief of the American College of Physicians (April 2024)
  • Long-Term Services and Supports for Older Adults: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians (July 2022)
  • Strengthening Food and Nutrition Security to Promote Public Health in the United States: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians (June 2022)
  • Policy Recommendations to Promote Prescription Drug Competition: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians (September 2020)
  • Racism and Health in the United States: A Policy Statement from the American College of Physicians (June 2020)
  • Policy Recommendations for Pharmacy Benefit Managers to Stem the Escalating Costs of Prescription Drugs (November 2019)
  • Policy Recommendations for Public Health Plans to Stem the Escalating Costs of Prescription Drugs (November 2019)
  • Reducing Firearms Injuries and Deaths in the United States (October 2018)
  • Patient Safety in the Office-Based Practice Setting (July 2017)
  • Climate Change and Health (April 2016)
  • Stemming the Escalating Cost of Prescription Drugs (March 2016)
  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (April 2015)
  • Prescription Drug Abuse (2013)

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Workforce and Physician Shortage

  • Principles for the Physician-Led Patient-Centered Medical Home and Other Approaches to Team-Based Care (December 2023)
  • Beyond the Discharge: Principles of Effective Care Transitions Between Settings (April 2023)
  • Beyond the Referral: Principles of Effective, Ongoing Primary and Specialty Care Collaboration (April 2022)
  • Position Statement on Promoting Policy Standards for Workplace Violence Prevention and Management (September 2021)
  • Compensation Disparities by Gender in Internal Medicine (August 2018)
  • Achieving Gender Equity in Physician Compensation and Career Advancement (April 2018)
  • Promoting Transparency and Alignment in Medicare Advantage (July 2017)
  • Putting Patients First by Reducing Administrative Tasks in Health Care (March 2017)
  • Financing U.S. Graduate Medical Education (May 2016)
  • Principles Supporting Dynamic Clinical Care Teams (September 2013)

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Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

  • Position Statement on Immunization of Health Care Workers (9/14/2021)
  • Position Statement on Immunization Policies to Protect the Public (9/14/2021)
  • Pharmacist Scope of Practice (6/8/2021)
  • ACP Statement on Global COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution and Allocation: On Being Ethical and Practical (6/6/2021)
  • Identifying Essential Elements to Ease Social Distancing Protocols, Address White House Guidance to “Re-open” the U.S. (4/17/2020)
  • Protecting Patient and Physician Health and Safety During the COVID-19 Pandemic (4/1/2020)
  • Statement on Nonurgent In-Person Medical Care During COVID-19 Emergency (3/24/2020)
  • ACP Policy Statement on Wearing Masks in Community Settings (7/13/2020)
  • Partial Resumption of Economic, Health Care and Other Activities While Mitigating COVID-19 Risk and Expanding System Capacity (5/6/2020)
  • Non-Discrimination in the Stewardship and Allocation of Resources During Health System Catastrophes Including COVID-19 (3/26/2020)
  • ACP Policy on Social Distancing During COVID-19 Emergency (3/26/2020)

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All rights reserved. Individuals may reproduce all or parts of Public Policy Papers for educational, not-for-profit uses. These papers may not be reproduced for commercial, for-profit use in any form, by any means (electronic, mechanical, xerographic, or other) or held in any information storage or retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher.

For questions about the content of Public Policy Papers, please contact the ACP Division of Governmental Affairs and Public Policy , 25 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20001-7401. 202-261-4500. To order copies of position papers, please contact us.