The AOA joined more than 350 organizations in urging Congress to extend Medicare telehealth services before they expire this September. In a letter to congressional leaders, the coalition emphasized that telehealth has become a lifeline for millions of Medicare beneficiaries, especially those with chronic conditions or limited mobility. Without swift action, patients and providers face … Read More
Throughout August recess, osteopathic physicians and medical students met with their members of Congress to highlight the challenges facing the osteopathic profession and advocate for key policy priorities. Using resources provided by the AOA, including talking points, leave-behind materials and advocacy guides, DOs and students engaged lawmakers on: Reauthorizing the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical … Read More
On July 14, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released the proposed CY2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule (MPFS) and Quality Payment Program (QPP) rule, outlining updates that will directly affect your practice and the future of osteopathic medicine. To keep you informed and engaged, the AOA has completed an initial analysis of the … Read More
The AOA joined hundreds of national organizations in a letter calling on Congress to reject the proposed $18 billion cut to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the House Appropriations Committee’s FY26 budget proposal. Instead, the AOA strongly supported restoring NIH funding to $51.3 billion, the level necessary to sustain groundbreaking biomedical research and … Read More
To help address the looming physician shortage, the AOA continues strong advocacy for legislation expanding Medicare-funded residency slots, particularly in underserved and rural areas. The AOA has recently sent several letters encouraging Congress to act on several GME bills, including: Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act, which proposes 14,000 new Medicare-supported GME slots. Rural Physician Workforce … Read More
On June 16, the AOA submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to its Request for Information on improving the digital health ecosystem for Medicare beneficiaries. The comments highlighted the need for stronger oversight, smarter reimbursement models and greater interoperability to support innovation in care delivery. In addition, … Read More
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a 6-year model to test the impact of implementing prior authorization in Medicare fee-for-service (FFS) via the implementation of technology-enabled processes for select services. The Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model has the stated intent of model focused on reducing fraud, waste (including low-value care) … Read More
As the nation prepares for the 2025-26 respiratory virus season, the AOA joined leading physician groups in a national letter reaffirming support for evidence-based vaccine guidance. Simultaneously, the AOA led a letter of support, alongside 40 osteopathic affiliates, applauding Representatives Pallone and Schrier for introducing the Family Vaccine Protection Act, which safeguards the authority of … Read More
On Tuesday, July 1, the U.S. Senate passed its version of H.R. 1, the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” a sweeping budget reconciliation measure that includes provisions affecting Medicare physician payment, Medicaid, student loans and more. Key provisions impacting the osteopathic profession include: Medicare physician payment: A one-year, 2.5% increase to the Medicare Physician Fee … Read More