ACP Advocate
The ACP Advocate is an online newsletter for ACP members interested in advocacy. An ACP login is required to access these articles. Not a member? Visit our Membership section to learn about joining.
May 22, 2026
Advocacy in Action
ACP Applauds USCIS Decision to Resume Physician Visa Processing
The agency indicated at the end of April that physicians are exempt from the visa processing hold placed on citizens of 39 countries.
ACP Policy News
ACP Guidance Offers Framework to Integrate Telemedicine Into Care Delivery
Position paper addresses the need for consistent national standards, streamlined licensing, audio-only coverage and broadband investment.
ACP Calls for Medicare Advantage Reform to Prioritize Patient-Centered Care
New policy paper offers recommendations to improve oversight, standardization and prior authorization processes.
In Case You Missed It
Recently in Annals of Internal Medicine
A brief research report recently published in Annals of Internal Medicine found unexplained inconsistencies in prior authorization rules for Aetna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare. The findings suggest that assembling prior authorization requirements into a shared database could improve transparency for both patients and clinicians and address administrative barriers.
Quick Hits
Advocacy News
Joint Letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Regarding Draft Guidance on Premarket Applications for Flavored Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems
Joint letter urging the FDA to reconsider the Draft Guidance as currently written, which threatens to open the regulatory door to a wider array of FDA-authorized flavored products that will be appealing and accessible to youth, without sufficient countervailing health benefits to adults who smoke.
ACP's Letter of Concerns Regarding the Equitable Community Access to Pharmacist Services (ECAPS) Act During Committee Markup
ACP letter expressing concern about the ECAPS Act (H.R. 3164), which would allow pharmacists to independently perform Evaluation and Management services for respiratory viruses, such as influenza, RSV, and COVID-19, or strep throat for patients on Medicare.
Joint Letter to Congressional Appropriators Supporting Funding for Overdose Prevention, Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Support Services
Joint letter urging Congress to maintain strong, dedicated federal investments in overdose prevention, substance use disorder treatment, and recovery support services in the FY 2027 appropriations process.
ACP Advocate is copyrighted ©2026 by the American College of Physicians.
