News and Updates from ACP National

June 2025

ACP Signs onto Joint Statement on Senate Reconciliation Package
 

ACP has signed onto a joint statement with the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the American Osteopathic Association and the American Psychiatric Association to urge lawmakers to protect affordable health insurance in the areas of Medicaid, Student Debt Relief, and Medicare Physician Payment. Read the full release here.  

Help Needed! Please Post and Share With Your Chapters to Protect Medicaid Funding
 

ACP is advocating relentlessly about issues directly impacting our members, internal medicine physicians, and patients. Currently, Congress is discussing several different budget proposals that could include major changes for the Medicaid program. If the proposed changes go into effect, they will cause millions of people across the U.S. to lose their health care coverage. We need your help letting members of Congress know about the devastating impact that changes to Medicaid would have on your patients and communities.

Share Medicaid Advocacy Email

Electronic Health Record (EHR) Learning Module for Recently Matched IMGs

Are you an IMG who matched to a 2025 U.S. residency position? FAIMER®, a division of IntealthTM, now offers an online learning module that familiarizes matched IMGs with the common tasks of an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, prepping them for their institution’s specific EHR orientation. More than 80% of user survey respondents recommend the module to incoming residents. The module is available for free to all matched IMGs who are beginning U.S. residency in 2025. Visit https://www.faimer.org/ehr-module/ for more information.

ACP Announces Quality Agenda for Internal Medicine

A central component ACP’s mission is to enhance the quality and effectiveness of health care by fostering excellence and professionalism in the practice of medicine. To focus ACP’s efforts, an initiative is near completion to identify clinical topics of core importance to internal medicine practice. ACP believes that such national efforts to improve health care quality must address issues that represent most clinical encounters: https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-25-01040

Our efforts encompass the many areas that ACP develops for our internal medicine community such as evidence-based clinical guidelines and performance measures; educational resources and Quality Improvement support programs; advocacy efforts to promote the issues impacting internal medicine physicians and health care; and original research and articles essential to internal medicine practice published in ACP's flagship peer-reviewed journal Annals of Internal Medicine.

Visit our dedicated page online for more information about our resources.

Join National Texting Campaign to Protect Medicaid

ACP is calling on you to join a nationwide peer-to-peer texting campaign during this critical time when Congress is considering deep cuts to Medicaid. These cuts would threaten care for underrepresented groups and impact a variety of healthcare settings that serve vulnerable populations.

ACP is working with the Protect Our Healthcare Coalition to support a nationwide peer-to-peer text campaign. Pre-written and personalized messages are provided for you to send to members of the public on behalf of local doctors and clinicians.

Using a secure platform called RumbleUp, you’ll be able to send pre-written, personalized messages directly to residents of key congressional districts in your state. These messages will go out on behalf of local doctors and healthcare professionals — encouraging recipients to call their Member of Congress and ask them to oppose Medicaid cuts.

More information, including full instructions on how to join the text program as a volunteer can be found at www.protectourhealthcare.org/texting-program.

New ACP Paper Addresses Ethical Implications of Long-Term Care

The paper urges a fundamental shift toward patient-centered, equitable, and accountable long-term care.

A new paper from the College sheds light on the ethical challenges and systemic flaws in long-term care in the United States, urging a fundamental shift toward patient-centered, equitable, and accountable care. “Optimizing Ethical Care, Quality, and Safety in Long-Term Services and Supports: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians,” was published May 6 by Annals of Internal Medicine.  https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-24-03641

The paper notes that long-term care, including nursing homes, assisted living facilities, home-based services, and hospice, are essential for individuals who are unable to care for themselves due to chronic conditions, cognitive decline, or functional limitations. Despite its importance, the system suffers from inadequate staffing, inconsistent oversight, and unsustainable business models that often prioritize profits over patient well-being, ACP said.

The paper emphasizes that systemic problems have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which revealed significant weaknesses in infection control, transparency, and oversight across care facilities.

To address this, the paper calls for ethical, evidence-based use of resources, respect for patient dignity and autonomy, advancement of health equity, and greater transparency and accountability in long-term care.

New ACP Paper Recommends Ways on How to Be Effective Advocates Through Collective Action

In a new paper, “Empowering Physicians Through Collective Action: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians,” ACP recommends ways for physicians to be efficient advocates for their patients and their profession through collective action. The paper discusses the growing frustration among patients and physicians regarding the U.S. healthcare system and explores collective action as a means of rectifying the environment. ACP emphasizes that the primary goal of collective empowerment actions by physicians should be to guarantee that patients have access to safe, affordable, and quality care. This paper is published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. https://www.acpjournals.org/doi/10.7326/ANNALS-24-03973

ACP also states that physicians must be included in executive positions and on the boards of hospitals and health systems, and have real collaborations with health system leaders. Additionally, ACP supports the rights of physicians to engage in joint activities to raise issues about health and safety, working conditions, and other matters without backlash from their employer. ACP also supports the right of physicians to engage in responsible collective bargaining, including joining a union or bargaining unit. Finally, ACP supports the right of independent practicing physicians to negotiate with health insurance plans regarding the quality of patient care.

Protect what matters most with ACP’s Member Insurance Program!

ACP's New AI Resource Hub is Here

ACP has launched a new Artificial Intelligence (AI)Resource Hub featuring curated resources around the timely topic of AI. Included on the hub are tools in medical practice, medical education, an ACP policy position paper, and other related resources.

ACP's new course, "Generative AI for Internal Medicine Physicians", explores the capabilities and applications of generative AI in health care, offering hands-on practice and insights into how large language models impact clinical practice.

Explore additional tools and resources, including:

Obesity Management Conversation Tool: In ten–minute consultations, ACP members can use speech or text to practice patient communication strategies with a simulated online patient.

• DynaMedex with Dyna AI: – Quickly obtain concise, evidence-based clinical information. Dyna AI is an advanced search tool that sources answers exclusively from DynaMedex.
• ACP Policy Paper: Artificial Intelligence in the Provision of Health Care – Stay informed on our stance regarding AI’s role in medicine.
• On-Demand Webinar: Harnessing AI as a Tool for Health Equity – Gain insights into AI's potential to address health disparities.

For more information, visit the ACP AI Resource Hub http://www.acponline.org/GenAI

ACP, Leading Organizations Unite to Affirm Vaccine Safety Amid Rising Misinformation and Declining Trust

ACP and the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) issued a statement, signed by 34 scientific and medical organizations, emphasizing the critical role of vaccines in public health. Read statement here

New ACP Paper Recommends Combination Therapy for Migraines

The new position paper published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, “Pharmacologic Treatments for Acute Episodic Migraine Headache in Outpatient Settings: A Clinical Guideline from the American College of Physicians,” discusses new recommendations for the treatment of acute episodic migraines in nonpregnant adults in outpatient settings. ACP evaluated pharmacologic treatments known to be effective for migraine treatment using the best available comparative effectiveness evidence of benefits and harms, patients’ values and preferences, and economic evidence to prioritize the most effective treatments.

In the paper, the ACP makes two key recommendations. The first is that clinicians add triptan to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug to treat moderate to severe acute episodic migraines in nonpregnant adults who do not respond to a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The second is that clinicians add triptan to acetaminophen to treat moderate to severe acute episodic migraine headaches in nonpregnant adults who do not respond well to acetaminophen. ACP also suggests that clinicians think about counseling nonpregnant adults to start treatment for acute migraine headaches as soon as possible by using a triptan with an NSAID or triptan with acetaminophen.

ACP recently published a companion guideline,"Prevention of Episodic Migraine Headache using Pharmacologic Treatments in Outpatient Settings,"which addressed new recommendations for the prevention of episodic migraine in nonpregnant adults.

Visit ACP's New One-Stop Collection of Recent Advocacy Efforts

ACP advocates for you on policy changes that will make a difference in your daily work, your professional development, and your patients' health. For the latest advocacy efforts from ACP, visit our new one-stop collection featuring articles, statements, and ways you can take action on various campaigns.

Latest ACP Advocacy Updates:

ACP shared its priorities with the presidential transition team, ahead of President Trump being sworn into office, and congressional leadership.

• ACP has also sent a letter to RFK Jr

ACP has issued the following public statements:

• Reiterated the importance of vaccines and evidence-based public health policies
• Issued a joint statement with 5 other medical societies to protest the U.S. withdrawing from the World Health Organization
• Reaffirmed our commitment to advancing equity
• Issued a joint statement about the removal of data and guidance from federal websites
• Issued a joint statement about protecting Medicaid

ACP has signed on to the following amicus briefs:

• State of Nebraska, et al., v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, et al.; Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, et al. This case challenges the EPA’s authority to reduce emissions by accelerating the adoption of electric trucks. The amicus brief that ACP signed onto in the case argues that the rule will achieve significant emissions reductions that are expected to benefit human health.
  • The below briefs are still to be filed:
    • PFLAG, Inc., et al., v. Donald J. Trump, in his official capacity as President of the United States.  This case was filed by PFLAG, GLMA, and a number of adolescents and their parents against the executive order that President Trump signed seeking to functionally ban gender affirming care for individuals under the age of 19. The amicus brief that ACP signed onto in the case argues that the widely accepted guidelines for treating gender dysphoria were developed through a robust and transparent process and provide for gender-affirming medical care when indicated.
    • ACP is also in the process of signing onto another brief in a separate case also against the executive order on gender affirming care.

ACP is implementing several grassroots advocacy campaigns via the ACP’s Advocates for Internal Medicine network that address protecting access to care for Medicaid enrollees, supporting the Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act; and supporting funding for the NHSC and THCGME Programs.

ACP has reminded members that they have access to the following clinical resources:

• Adult Immunization Resource Hub
• Sex and Gender Health Learning Hub
• In the Clinic from Annals of Internal Medicine
• DynaMedex®

Annals of Internal Medicine published “Potential Clinical and Economic Impacts of Cutbacks in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Program in South Africa: A Modeling Analysis” (2/11/25)

Lastly, there are two additional external items that may be of interest to you. There is a Stand Up for Science 2025 rally scheduled for March 7, 2025, in Washington, D.C., and in cities across the country. Second, physicians who are concerned about patients who are immigrants could consider sharing the "Know Your Rights" resource from the National Immigration Law Center.

Questions
ACP’s public policy team is available to support your chapter’s advocacy, including consistency with ACP policy and providing feedback on draft materials. We ask that chapter leaders submit any inquiries using this brief questionnaire to ensure we are efficient in responding to your  needs and can track trends in chapter advocacy.

ACP and Other Leading Physician Groups Issue Statement on Removal of Data and Guidance From Federal Websites

Statement from Leading Physician Groups on Announcement to Withdraw U.S. from the World Health Organization

The statement below is issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians, American Osteopathic Association and American Psychiatric Association:

“The recent announcement to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organization (WHO) will limit our ability to collaborate and coordinate on public health issues that impact individuals and their families here and around the globe. As leading medical organizations representing more than 600,000 physicians in the United States, we share the goal of safe, healthy, and disease-free patients and communities. Remaining part of the WHO is one way we can ensure our nation’s success in achieving this goal for all the patients we care for.

“For more than 70 years, the WHO has played a leading a role in protecting, supporting, and promoting public health in the United States and around the world. Withdrawing from the WHO will hamper our country’s ability to predict and respond to major public health emergencies and limit access, communication and information sharing to a global network of health professionals.

“We urge Congress to reject the administration’s proposal to withdraw from the WHO and ensure the United States can continue to have a seat at the table where critical public health decisions are being made.”

Internal Medicine Physicians Stress the Importance of Vaccines and Evidence-Based Public Health Policies

Statement attributable to:
Isaac O. Opole, MBChB, PhD, MACP
President, American College of Physicians

PHILADELPHIA November 15, 2024 – Incidences of vaccine preventable diseases are increasing in the United States. Preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that as of the beginning of November, five times as many cases of pertussis (whooping cough) have been reported as there were at the same time last year. We have also already seen 16 outbreaks of measles across the country in 2024, as compared to only four in all of 2023. As internal medicine physicians on the front lines of patient care, we understand what needs to be done to mitigate the spread of preventable diseases. Vaccines are vital to our ability to prevent diseases that threaten public health. They help prevent the spread of disease, protect against hospitalization, and can protect against long-term health issues, especially for those who are most vulnerable to serious complications. The American College of Physicians (ACP) remains concerned about the spread of disinformation and misinformation regarding vaccination and treatment, and strongly supports using the best-possible evidence to guide medical care and public health policies.

It is critical that policymakers and government officials understand the importance of vaccines, evidence-based medicine, and other ways that our public health infrastructure protects all of us. A sufficient public health system is essential to preventing illness and promoting health in society, assuring that our patients can live healthy lives, and helping to safeguard the health of everyone in our country. As the ACP discussed in our recent policy paper on strengthening the public health infrastructure, the federal government should protect and strengthen the public health infrastructure for the well-being of all Americans.

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Missing something? Renew your ACP membership today to access the tools, knowledge, and connections that will empower you to embrace the ever-changing landscape in medicine. Don’t miss out on hundreds of hours of learning opportunities, complementary subscriptions to Annals of Internal Medicine and DynaMedexTM, professional development resources, and tools to support your well-being. Additionally, you’ll grow your professional network as you connect with a global community of colleagues committed to supporting internal medicine physicians worldwide. 

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