February 21, 2025
Administration News
ACP Advocates for Access to Federal Health Data and Resources
After removal of data and guidance on the CDC, NIH and other government websites, ACP joined with other medical organizations in opposing the decision.
Congressional News and Perspective
Bipartisan Legislation Could Reduce Cuts to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
ACP urges members to reach out to elected officials and voice their support for the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act.
Draft Legislation Addresses GME Financing, Focusing on Rural and Underserved Areas
ACP provided feedback to the congressional working group, suggesting an even further increase in the Medicare-funded GME residency spots.
In Case You Missed It
ACP LA Chapter Criticizes State's Vaccine Promotion Ban
In a joint letter with eight other medical organizations, the ACP Louisiana Chapter criticized the politicization of vaccines and the state's health department after it recently banned the practice of encouraging vaccination and holding vaccine-related events.
In the letter, the organizations said, “Immunizations should not be politicized. Healthcare should not be politicized. Public health should not be politicized. Your relationship with your physician should not be politicized.”
Be a Part of ACP Advocacy: Register for Leadership Day 2025
Registration is now open for ACP's annual national advocacy event on April 28-29 in Washington, DC. Help ACP increase its presence on Capitol Hill and advocate directly with Congress in support of legislation impacting internal medicine physicians and your patients. If you are interested in attending, please also contact your ACP chapter to help your state chapter coordinate their delegation.
Action Alert: Urge Congress to Protect Access to Care for Medicaid Enrollees
ACP is calling on you to contact your members of Congress to ask them to protect people with disabilities, children, low-income adults, and the elderly by preventing any cuts or changes that could reduce coverage in the Medicaid program.
Visit ACP's Legislative Action Center to learn more and take action. A sample email message is provided for you that includes space for you to personalize the letter. Join the Advocates for Internal Medicine network to receive ACP's action alerts directly and advocate for the interests of internal medicine in Washington.
Dr. Jokela on KevinMD: Doctors, grounded in our oath, must act now more than ever
Janet Jokela, MD, MPH, MACP, senior associate dean of engagement at Carle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and ACP's Treasurer, discusses the enduring importance of the physician's oath in her article, “Doctors, grounded in our oath, must act now more than ever, now available on the KevinMD website. Kevin Pho is an internal medicine physician and founder and editor of KevinMD, one of the web's most influential medical websites.
In her column, Dr. Jokela notes, “We each have been given unique talents and gifts. Our life and professional journey demand that we use our talents and gifts to uphold our oath, which is always the next right thing to do.”
Quick Hits
Advocacy News
ACP Letter of Support for the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act
ACP letter supporting the urgent passage of H.R. 879, the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act, which is bipartisan legislation that protects access to care for Medicare beneficiaries and would help struggling small, rural and independent physician practices to keep up with the rate of inflation.
Joint Letter Urging the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations to Continue Supporting Federal Tobacco Control Efforts
Joint letter urging the U.S. House Committee on Appropriations to ensure that the FDA retains its full authority to oversee tobacco products, and that the CDC receives necessary resources to protect young people from tobacco products and reduce tobacco-related disease.
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