ACP’s advocacy priorities seek to promote policy reforms on the federal level through legislative, regulatory, and executive actions that benefit the overall health and well-being of patients, physicians, and the practice of internal medicine.
Address Prescription Drug Costs
Improve the pricing, transparency and affordability of prescription drugs while reducing unnecessary step therapy protocols and restrictions to competition in the pharmaceutical industry.
Compensate Physicians for the Value of Care Provided
Fully compensate physicians for the value of services rendered and quality performance that includes annual inflation adjustments.
Improve Access to Mental and Behavioral Health Care
Fund federal programs that support integrating mental and behavioral health into the primary care setting and promote mental health parity.
Ensure Access to Care After the Public Health Emergency
Preserve access to vital telehealth services for mental and behavioral health and ensure continued coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries who could be disenrolled with the unwinding of the PHE.
Reduce Administrative Burden in Medicine
Advance policies that will eliminate unnecessary paperwork and streamline the prior authorization process for physicians and patients in Medicare.
Invest in Public Health and Pandemic Preparedness
Fund and promote federal programs and initiatives that support the public health infrastructure and improve preparedness for future pandemics.
Support Patient Access to Reproductive Health Care
Promote policies that seek to protect access to a full range of vital reproductive services, including abortion, and support efforts to protect the patient-physician relationship.
Advance Equity in Health Care
Improve high-value and comprehensive health care for all members of society in ways that move us closer to health equity.
Prevent Firearms-Related Deaths and Injuries
Address the growing epidemic of gun violence through common sense and systemic reforms at all levels of government.
Mitigate the Effects of Climate Change
Invest in efforts to better support research, education, and response to the medical consequences of global climate change.