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:
Access to Care
- Improving Health and Health Care in Rural Communities: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians (March 2025)
- Ensuring Equitable Access to Participation in the Electoral Process (December 2023)
- Health as a Human Right (October 2023)
- Reproductive Health Policy in the United States (February 2023)
- 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)
- Improving the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's Insurance Coverage Provisions (April 2019)
Behavioral Health and Substance Use Disorders
- 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)
- 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)
- Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (April 2015)
- The Integration of Care for Mental Health, Substance Abuse, and Other Behavioral Health Conditions into Primary Care (August 2015)
Climate Change
- Environmental Health (October 2022)
- Climate Change and Health (April 2016)
Firearm Injuries and Deaths
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)
Improving Medicare
Increasing Health Equity
- Improving Health and Health Care in Rural Communities: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians (March 2025)
- 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)
- Reproductive Health Policy in the United States (February 2023)
- Health Care During Incarceration (November 2022)
- Supporting the Health and Well-Being of Indigenous Communities (2022)
- Long-Term Services and Supports for Older Adults: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians (July 2022)
- Reforming Physician Payments to Achieve Greater Equity and Value in Health Care: A Position Paper of the American College of Physicians (June 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)
- Health Care for Our Nation’s Veterans: A Policy Paper From the American College of Physicians (October 2021)
- A Comprehensive Policy Framework to Understand and Address Disparities and Discrimination in Health and Health Care (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)
- Women's Health Policy in the United States (May 2018)
- National Immigration Policy and Access to Healthcare (2011)
Medicaid
Payments and Profit
- Improving Health and Health Care in Rural Communities: A Position Paper from the American College of Physicians (March 2025)
- Reforming Physician Payments to Achieve Greater Equity and Value in Health Care: A Position Paper of the American College of Physicians (June 2022)
- Financial Profit in Medicine: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians (September 2021)
- Envisioning a Better U.S. Health Care System for All: Health Care Delivery and Payment System Reforms (January 2020)
- Improving Health Care Efficacy and Efficiency Through Increased Transparency (2017)
- Addressing the Increasing Burden of Health Insurance Cost Sharing (May 2016)
- Assessing the Patient Care Implications of "Concierge" and Other Direct Patient Contracting Practices (November 2015)
Physician Workforce and Scope of Practice
- Empowering Physicians Through Collective Action: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians (April 2025)
- 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 | Appendix 1: Playbook (April 2022)
- Health Care for Our Nation’s Veterans: A Policy Paper From the American College of Physicians (October 2021)
- Position Statement on Promoting Policy Standards for Workplace Violence Prevention and Management (September 2021)
- Understanding and Addressing Disparities and Discrimination in Education and in the Physician Workforce (2021)
- Compensation Disparities by Gender in Internal Medicine (August 2018)
- Achieving Gender Equity in Physician Compensation and Career Advancement (April 2018)
- Patient Safety in the Office-Based Practice Setting (July 2017)
- Financing U.S. Graduate Medical Education (May 2016)
- Retail Health Clinics (October 2015)
Prescription Drugs
- Policy Recommendations to Promote Prescription Drug Competition: A Position Paper From the American College of Physicians (September 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)
- 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)
- Stemming the Escalating Cost of Prescription Drugs (March 2016)
Public Health Infrastructure and Funding
Reducing Administrative Burdens: Patients Before Paperwork
Women in Medicine
ACP Policy Compendium (Updated Spring 2025) Download an up-to-date summary of ACP's policy positions.