Top stories of Advocacy Update: May 2026

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Week of May 22

1. AMA-supported budget neutrality reform bill unanimously passes Ways and Means

   1. May 22, 2026

   2. The effort to reform arcane and antiquated statutorily mandated requirements for the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule took an important step forward following the unanimous passage of H.R. 8163, the Provider Reimbursement Stability Act, out of the Ways and Means Committee on May 21.

2. House hearing on Medicare payment highlights need for reform

   1. May 22, 2026

   2. This week’s House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing on the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act highlights the urgent need for Medicare payment reform as physician practices across the country struggle to keep up with rising costs. The AMA is urging Congress to advance bipartisan reforms that would stabilize physician payment, including establishing a permanent inflationary update tied to the Medicare Economic Index.  

3. Survey finds health systems benefit from removing stigmatizing questions from credentialing applications

   1. May 22, 2026
   2. “These real-world results are extremely promising and show more physicians are using mental health support services, with positive impacts across retention and clinician wellbeing. When physicians feel safe seeking care, patients benefit and our health system is stronger,” said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, MD.  

View the May 22 issue

• May 22, 2026: National Advocacy Update

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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