The latest members-only installment of our Capitol Rounds webinar series breaks down the latest federal funding victories, regulatory wins, and state advocacy impact.
Funding Your Priorities
ACEP advocacy successfully secured enactment of many longstanding ACEP priorities in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2026.
Highlights include a two-year extension of critical telehealth flexibilities, continued funding for the ACEP-developed Emergency Department Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO) program, and a five-year reauthorization of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act - landmark, one-of-a-kind legislation supporting physician mental health and well-being that ACEP helped write and champion through Congress.
Protecting Your Practice
ACEP and more than 30 medical societies back bipartisan legislation to pause implementation of the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule efficiency adjustment. ACEP is leading emergency physicians’ strong opposition to CMS’s practice expense reallocation and will keep working with lawmakers on targeted legislative fixes that encourage fair and timely reimbursement.
Easing Regulatory Burdens
ACEP notched a long-awaited regulatory win when the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued the long-awaited "standing orders" final rule, finally providing much-needed clarity for emergency medical services (EMS) directors and personnel to ensure appropriate patient access to pain and anti-seizure medications in the field..
We also responded to CMS's proposed rule on transparency in coverage, noting that greater price transparency is important, but cautioning the agency that policies must account for the unique realities of emergency care. Requirements that undermine EMTALA protections could create avoidable delays to treatment and put patients at risk.
Holding Insurers Accountable
New federal data confirms what emergency physicians already know —facility payments have risen while physician payments have continued to drop since the implementation of the No Surprises Act.
That’s a big reason why ACEP is pressing hard for insurer accountability, and fair and timely reimbursement through the No Surprises Enforcement Act and pushing for CMS’ proposed No Surprises Act Operations Rule to be finalized after long delays.
Urge your legislators to cosponsor legislation to enforce the No Surprises Act
Speaking Out in the States
Across the country, ACEP chapters are prioritizing physician-led care, tackling the boarding crisis, strengthening protections against workplace violence, and more. Keep current on quickly moving state policies with ACEP’s members-only state legislative dashboard.
Get InvolvedNow is the time to speak out for your practice and patients. Register Now for the ACEP Leadership & Advocacy Conference (LAC) April 26–28, 2026, in Washington, DC. |
More ways you can speak out:
- Join the ACEP 911 Grassroots Network for updates and tools you can use to effectively engage your lawmakers, including the 911 Grassroots Network weekly newsletter.
- Contact your legislators directly through the Advocacy Action Center.
- Invite a Legislator to Your ED. Nothing is more impactful than visiting an ED in person. You can bring a legislator to work, and we will guide you every step of the way. Contact ACEP to get started.
