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
Last week, the Nevada legislature adjourned without passing Senate Bill 78, which would have dissolved the state board of osteopathic medicine and transferred DO licensure to a new MD-majority board. Thanks to strong advocacy from the AOA, the Nevada Osteopathic Medical Association (NOMA), National Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners (NBOME), Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine … Read More
In response to the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB) request for input on deregulatory actions, the AOA submitted formal comments identifying federal policies that hinder physician autonomy, limit competition and contribute to administrative burnout. The AOA’s recommendations center on three key areas: Reducing administrative burden: The AOA called for major reforms to the Merit-Based … Read More
On May 27, the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), in partnership with the AOA, launched a national grassroots campaign urging Congress to oppose proposed changes to the federal student loan system that could significantly increase the financial burden on osteopathic medical students. The legislation under consideration would cap graduate borrowing at $150,000, eliminate GRAD Plus … Read More
During the week of June 2, AOA CEO Kathleen S. Creason, MBA, and AOA President Teresa A. Hubka, DO, FACOOG (Dist.), CS, participated in a series of high-level meetings on Capitol Hill to advance the AOA’s federal policy priorities and ensure the voice of osteopathic medicine is heard in key legislative discussions. First, the AOA … Read More
On May 7, 2025, AOA President Teresa A. Hubka, DO, joined members of the newly formed Democratic Doctors Caucus and other physician leaders on the steps of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to advocate for protecting patients’ access to Medicaid. The event was an opportunity to engage directly with physician lawmakers … Read More
The AOA and its affiliates are leading efforts in multiple states to stop inappropriate scope expansion and preserve high standards in patient care: Nevada: The AOA and the Nevada Osteopathic Medical Association opposed Senate Bill 78, which would eliminate the state’s independent board of osteopathic medicine and place DOs under a joint regulatory board with … Read More
The AOA submitted a letter of support for the CONNECT for Health Act of 2025, bipartisan legislation that would permanently extend critical telehealth flexibilities for Medicare beneficiaries. The bill supports use of remote patient monitoring, removes geographic restrictions on care and expands eligible originating sites. The AOA highlighted how telehealth has improved access to care, … Read More
On April 29, the House Committee on Education and Workforce held a markup on the Student Success and Taxpayer Savings Plan, their section of the House’s FY25 budget reconciliation package. The legislation includes proposals to rework the federal student loan system while providing over $330 billion dollars in savings over ten years. Notably, the legislation … Read More