Top stories of Advocacy Update: June 2026

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Week of June 18

1. Medicare Trustees warn of unsustainability of Medicare physician payment system

   1. June 18, 2026

   2. As they have in the past, the Medicare Trustees noted in their 2026 report that, “[a]bsent a change in the delivery system or level of update by subsequent legislation, the Trustees expect access to Medicare-participating physicians to become a significant issue in the long term.” 

2. MedPAC June report highlights future areas of work for Medicare payment reform under new chair

   1. June 18, 2026
   2. The report also explicitly notes the commission’s ongoing recommendation to increase Medicare physician payment rates “to bring [fee-for-service] Medicare’s overall payment levels closer in line with provider’s costs,” which the AMA has strongly supported in the past.

3. AMA submits comments urging CMS to strengthen prior authorization timelines, transparency and interoperability requirements

   1. June 18, 2026
   2. In comments on the proposed Interoperability Standards and Prior Authorization for Drugs rule, the AMA supported CMS’ efforts to modernize drug prior authorization while urging the agency to adopt additional reforms to improve transparency, reduce administrative burden and ensure timely access to care.

View the June 18 issue

• June 18, 2026: National Advocacy Update
• June 18, 2026: State Advocacy Update

Week of June 12

1. Highlights from the 2026 AMA Annual Meeting

   1. June 12, 2026

   2. Earlier this week, the House of Medicine concluded its 2026 AMA Annual Meeting, where hundreds of physician and medical student delegates debated and set policy for the organization.

2. CMS publishes Medicaid work requirement rules that limit exemptions for people with serious medical conditions

   1. June 12, 2026
   2. The restrictive definition of medical frailty in the interim final rule will limit access to exemptions, even for individuals with serious medical conditions, and increase administrative burden on physicians and other safety net providers. The AMA opposes work requirements as a condition of Medicaid eligibility and has been a strong advocate for protecting Medicaid access and minimizing administrative obstacles for both patients and providers.

3. AMA applauds court decision blocking $100,000 visa fee for physicians 

   1. June 12, 2026
   2. “At a time when communities across the country face physician shortages and growing barriers to care, we should be removing obstacles—not creating new ones— to attract talented physicians and other highly skilled professionals,” said then-AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD. “International medical graduates play a vital role in caring for patients, particularly in underserved and rural areas.”

View the June 12 issue

• June 12, 2026: National Advocacy Update

Week of June 5

1. AMA Advocacy Impact Report

   1. June 5, 2026

   2. “This report reflects the momentum the American Medical Association and our partners across medicine built during the first half of 2026,” wrote AMA CEO John Whyte, MD, MPH. “Together, we pushed for Medicare payment reform, fought to ease prior authorization burdens that delay care, strengthened efforts to expand access for patients, and elevated physician mental health and well-being as a national priority.”

2. Administration releases long-awaited No Surprises Act final rule

   1. June 5, 2026
   2. Broadly, the final rule can be considered positive for physicians and looks to streamline the dispute process and require more information to be provided to physicians. The AMA is still analyzing the rule and will be providing more detailed information.

3. Executive order directs CDC to further assess childhood vaccine schedule

   1. June 5, 2026
   2. “There is no credible scientific evidence to support changing the current childhood vaccine schedule,” says a statement from AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD. “Vaccines are one of the most effective tools in modern medicine. Decisions about their use must be guided by science, patient safety, and the expertise of unbiased physicians and public health experts—not by policy shifts that erode confidence in proven protections.”

View the June 5 issue

• June 5, 2026: National Advocacy Update

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