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June 13, 2025
Congressional News and Perspective
ACP Flags Provisions of the Proposed Budget Legislation That Put Patient Access to Care and Physician Stability at Risk
The current spending legislation, already passed in the House, contains provisions that will affect Medicaid, ACA tax credits and federal student loan programs.
ACP Regulatory News
ACP Provides Comments Objecting to CMS Proposed Rule on ACA Marketplaces
The proposed rule shortens the open marketplace enrollment period, imposes limits on automatic re-enrollment and excludes gender-affirming care from essential benefits.
Advocacy in Action
ACP Joins Health Organizations in Reporting on Health Impacts of Climate Change
Other climate change-related advocacy efforts focus on protecting climate-related provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act.
In Case You Missed It
Janet Jokela, MD, MPH, MACP, Senior Associate Dean of Engagement at Carle Illinois College of Medicine, shares her reflections on a case of measles from her early days in medicine and how they relate to the understanding of the virus today.
Dr. Jokela recalls being called to the ER in the middle of the night for a suspected measles case. A potential outbreak was narrowly avoided thanks to fast action and collaboration with the local health department. Jokela says the U.S. is in an unusual situation with over 1,000 cases reported across 31 states and three confirmed measles-related deaths in 2025, including two pediatric fatalities, citing the drop in MMR vaccination rates.
Jokela encourages physicians to stay vigilant and lead with knowledge and empathy when discussing vaccines with patients.
Read on the KevinMD website.
Quick Hits
In an article published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, “,” ACP leaders Jason M. Goldman, MD, MACP and Darilyn V. Moyer, MD, discuss lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of vaccines.
Advocacy News
Letter to Senate Leaders Urging Key Improvements to Reconciliation Bill
Letter urging Senate leaders to make key improvements to the House-passed reconciliation bill that are necessary to avoid further strain on physician practices, safeguard access to medical education, and prevent potential coverage losses for vulnerable populations.
Letter to Dept. of State on Impact of Student Visa Interview Pause on International Medical Graduates
ACP letter expressing concern about the U.S. State Department's decision to temporarily pause all new student and exchange visa interviews, which threatens to delay the arrival of thousands of incoming physicians who play a vital role in delivering health care across the country.
Statement from Leading Physician Groups on Senate Reconciliation Package
Joint statement urging lawmakers to protect patients' access to affordable health insurance and meaningfully reform Medicare physician payment to safeguard access to care in underserved rural and urban communities.
ƹϵεapp Concerned by Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Change in COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Statement expressing concern at the HHS announcement that COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be recommended for health pregnant individuals and children.
Internal Medicine Physicians Say House Passed Budget Bill will Harm Patient Access to Care
Statement about the budget reconciliation bill, which includes proposed changes to the Medicaid program that would cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance and be unable to afford necessary care.
Joint Letter to Congressional Appropriators Urging FY26 Funding for the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant
Joint letter urging Congressional Appropriators to support FY26 funding for the Title V MCH Services Block Grant, which is the only federal program of its kind devoted solely to improving the health of all women and children.
Joint Letter to Congressional Appropriators Urging Fiscal Year 2026 Funding for the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network (SET-NET)
Joint letter urging Congress to provide funding for SET-NET next year, which would enable the network to reach additional jurisdictions, track more threats, and lead the nationwide preparedness and response needed to protect pregnant individuals and infants in the United States from public health threats.
Joint Comment Letter on Immigration Status of Sponsors for Unaccompanied Children
Joint letter commenting on the Interim Final Rule, which would cause harm to children by rescinding prior regulatory provisions that helped ensure unaccompanied children could be safely united with sponsors and live in community settings.
Joint Letter to U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) on Improving Performance, Accountability and Responsiveness in the Civil Service Proposed Rule
Joint letter urging the OPM to not finalize a proposal that would reclassify policy-influencing employees, denying them protections against termination available to other career employees, and risk diminishing expert staff at federal agencies that the public relies on to protect their health.
ACP Joint Letter on House Budget Reconciliation Bill
Joint letter regarding House reconciliation package, which will result in the loss of health coverage for at least 13.7 million Americans and have a severe impact on people's ability to access and afford private insurance coverage in the individual health insurance Marketplaces.
Joint Letter to Secretary Kennedy About Department of Health and Human Service (HHS) Workforce Reductions on Federal Tobacco Use Prevention and Control Programs
Joint letter to Sec. Kennedy expressing concern about the recently announced reorganization at HHS and workforce reductions on federal tobacco use prevention and control programs, which will halt and even reverse decades of progress in reducing the use of lethal and addictive tobacco products.
ACP's Letter to Leadership Regarding the Big Beautiful Bill Act
ACP letter expressing serious concern about the overall impact of the reconciliation package on those who rely upon Medicaid and food assistance, medical students and residents needing student loans to complete their education, and U.S. citizens who will suffer from the effects of greenhouse gas emissions as Congress rolls back energy and environmental incentives.
Declaration on Climate Change and Health 2025
Joint letter from leader health organizations calling on decision makers at every level of government to protect the United States' health by taking steps to reduce pollution that drives climate change.
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