Top stories of Advocacy Update: May 2026

Get essential advocacy news and information on key national and state issues impacting physicians, patients and the health care environment. View past issues of Advocacy Update. 

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Week of May 15

1. Prior authorization reform pledge falls short with physicians, AMA survey finds

   1. May 15, 2026

   2. Findings from the 2025 AMA Prior Authorization Physician Survey show that only one in three physicians (33%) believe the latest insurer pledge to streamline, simplify and reduce prior authorization requirements will make a meaningful difference. The AMA survey shows how much work insurers still must do and highlights ongoing concerns that prior authorization delays care, disrupts treatment and harms patient outcomes.

2. Physicians and healthcare groups urge Congress to bolster No Surprises Act, physicians’ stories needed for ongoing advocacy

   1. May 15, 2026
   2. The AMA, 50 state medical societies and 46 healthcare groups sent a letter to congressional leaders this week supporting bipartisan, bicameral legislation designed to strengthen enforcement of the No Surprises Act.

View the May 15 issue

• May 15, 2026: National Advocacy Update
• May 15, 2026: State Advocacy Update

Week of May 8

1. AMA-driven bipartisan legislation to overhaul MIPS introduced in the House of Representatives

   1. May 8, 2026

   2. The “Medicare Physician Data-driven Performance Payment System (DPPS) Act of 2026” makes key, targeted reforms to the Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) program in hopes of making it more efficient, useful and fair for all participating physicians.

2. AMA Physician Entrepreneur Forum early registration ends May 31

   1. May 8, 2026
   2. Join us Aug. 7–8, in Chicago, for the AMA Physician Entrepreneur Forum, an inspiring, in-person experience featuring healthcare leaders who have successfully built and led innovative businesses and practices. Attendees will experience insights from top physician entrepreneurs, valuable networking opportunities, exclusive receptions and curated events, and high-caliber CME sessions. A special discounted rate is available through May 31. 

View the May 8 issue

• May 8, 2026: National Advocacy Update
• May 8, 2026: State Advocacy Update

Week of May 1

1. AMA research details toll of broken medical liability system

   1. May 1, 2026

   2. New research studies from the AMA reveal that many physicians face a significant risk of being sued during their careers. The ever-present risk of lawsuits (PDF)—even when no error occurred—and high medical liability insurance premiums (PDF) have contributed to a prolonged period of heavy financial burden on doctors, fueling escalating expenses throughout the health care system.  

2. Organized medicine sounds alarm about payer noncompliance with No Surprises Act and urges administration to increase enforcement

   1. May 1, 2026
   2. The AMA along with 111 national medical specialty societies and state medical associations wrote administration officials to warn about tactics health plans are using to disregard No Surprises Act requirements and repeatedly avoid making timely payments owed to providers, forcing some practices into financial jeopardy.

3. AMA urges strong physician protections against AI deepfake impersonation

   1. May 1, 2026
   2. Responding to the escalating risk of AI-manipulated images, videos and audio that impersonate physicians, the AMA announced a new comprehensive policy framework to establish clear, enforceable protections for physicians against unauthorized AI-generated “deepfakes.” 

View the May 1 issue

• May 1, 2026: National Advocacy Update
• May 1, 2026: State Advocacy Update

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