ACS Advocacy Brief: March 12, 2026

Advocacy Summit Prepares Surgeons to Navigate Uncertain Times

More than 500 surgeons answered the call to visit Washington, DC, earlier this month for the ACS Leadership & Advocacy Summit. They learn from surgical leaders, policy experts, healthcare researchers, and seasoned advocates on what the core issues are for surgeons and how to best effect change.

“This is a pivotal moment for surgery. Decisions being made in Washington right now will shape who can access care, how surgeons are paid, and whether our workforce is sustainable for the next generation. If surgeons aren’t at the table, those decisions will be made without us,” said Christian Shalgian, Senior Vice President of the ACS Division of Advocacy and Health Policy, who welcomed the attendees to the Advocacy portion of the meeting. 

Subject matter experts shared their perspectives on several timely, significant topics:

• Addressing surgical deserts in rural communities
• The “false dichotomy” between primary and specialty care presented the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
• The need to “cover every front” as a surgeon advocate
• The importance of learning to communicate the substance of healthcare policy

The final day of the Summit was Hill Day, and 262 surgeons representing 39 states participated in 247 meetings with their Congressional representatives, discussing everything from the Medicare payment system to improved access to breast care screening, and support for surgical research.

Read a comprehensive summary of this year’s Advocacy Summit in an April Bulletin article, available online ahead of print.

Dr. Sigrid Burruss Is Advocate of the Year

The 2025 SurgeonsVoice Advocate of the Year is Sigrid Burruss, MD, FACS, associate professor of surgery in the Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and Emergency General Surgery at the University of California, Irvine.

The honor was presented at this year’s 2026 Leadership & Advocacy Summit. Dr. Burruss was selected for her commitment to the College’s advocacy and political efforts, specifically her passion for improving the wellbeing of communities and supporting surgeons who spend countless hours caring for patients. 

Dr. Burruss serves as Chair of the Southern California ACS Advocacy Committee, is a member of the ACS Legislative Committee, and is active in the California Medical Association. Her commitment to educating and engaging lawmakers in Washington, DC, reflects her dedication to protecting and advancing the voice of surgery in Congress.

Lawmakers Lead Effort to Fully Fund MISSION ZERO

Representatives Richard Hudson (R-NC) and Kathy Castor (D-FL) are leading a congressional sign-on letter to the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Subcommittee requesting $11.5 million for the Military and Civilian Partnership for Trauma Readiness Grant Program (MISSION ZERO) in fiscal year (FY) 2027. 

MISSION ZERO provides critical funding through the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response to cover the administrative costs of embedding military trauma professionals in civilian trauma centers. These military-civilian trauma care partnerships allow military trauma providers to gain exposure in treating critically injured patients and increase readiness for when these units are deployed, further advancing trauma care and providing greater patient access. 

Just as military trauma providers learn from their civilian counterparts, the best practices learned on the battlefield are brought home to further advance trauma care and provide greater civilian access. 

The ACS has thanked Congress for passing $4 million for MISSION ZERO for FY26, however, the College is urging lawmakers to fund this critical program at the fully authorized amount of $11.5 million for FY27.

Visit SurgeonsVoice and urge your member of Congress to sign on to the letter in support of full funding for MISSION ZERO in FY27.

Virginia, Tennessee State Advocacy Days Offer Surgeons Local Opportunities

One of the most effective strategies for collaborating with policymakers and their staff is to allow them to hear directly from ACS members during a state advocacy day sponsored by an ACS chapter. Recently, the ACS Virginia and Tennessee Chapters each participated in state advocacy days at their respective state capitals, which provided Fellows and surgical residents with valuable opportunities to demonstrate the impact of organized medicine when surgeons show up, speak out, and work collaboratively with policymakers.

Virginia Advocacy Day

On February 26, members of the ACS Virginia Chapter collaborated with the Medical Society of Virginia (MSV) at the State Capitol in Richmond for Advocacy Day to engage directly with state lawmakers on issues impacting patient care and the practice of medicine.

Highlighting the importance of advocacy engagement at every stage of surgical training, both Virginia Chapter Fellows and residents participated in the event. 

Fellows included Jessica Burgess, MD, FACS, Virginia Chapter President-Elect and Chair of the ACS Young Fellows Association; Margaret Tracci, MD, FACS, ACS Medical Director for Surgeon Engagement; William Ward Jr., MD, FACS, Virginia Chapter President and chapter Advocacy Chair; and Jason Wilson, MD, FACS, member of the Board of Governors Advocacy and Health Policy Pillar.

Surgical residents included Kyle Alexander, MD, Vashti Bandy, MD, and Morgan Hopp, MD.

The morning opened with a focused strategy session to review legislation and refine talking points. Surgeons spoke with legislators about several high-priority bills, including:

• Opposition to medical malpractice pre-judgment interest (SB 536), which is not covered under professional liability insurance, exposing a physician’s personal assets
• Support for a ban on noncompete agreements (HB 627/SB 128) to promote physician mobility and improve patient access to care
• Support to strengthen workplace violence reporting requirements (HB 1489) and enhance safety for health care professionals
• Support for medical student loan repayment initiatives (SB 625) to help address workforce shortages and improve recruitment

MSV provided attendees with materials summarizing these policy positions to leave with legislators.

Legislative meetings were coordinated and scheduled based on the Fellows’ practice locations to allow surgeons to connect directly with their elected officials. Most participants met with Delegates Phil Scott (R) and Brianna Sewell (D), and Senators Angelia Williams Graves (D) and Michael Jones (D).

In addition, Dr. Tracci met with Delegates Rob Bloxom Jr. (R), Alfonso Lopez (D), Mark Downey (D), and Josh Thomas (D). Dr. Wilson met with Delegates Virgil Thornton Sr. (D), Wendell Walker (R), Otto Wachsmann (R), and Vivian Watts (D).

Throughout the day, Virginia surgeons reinforced a clear message: physician engagement in the legislative process is essential to protecting patients, strengthening the healthcare workforce, and ensuring sound health policy in the Commonwealth.

Tennessee Advocacy Day

On March 3, members of the Tennessee Chapter of the ACS partnered with the Tennessee Medical Association (TMA) at the State Capitol in Nashville for Doctor’s Day on the Hill, to engage directly with state lawmakers on issues impacting patient care and the practice of medicine.

While no Fellows were able to attend, Tennessee surgical residents Joseph Balaban, MD, and Ryan Taylor, MD, participated in the event, showing that the next generation of surgeons is actively involved in collaborating with legislators to advance the field.

The residents met in the Cordell Hull Building were given their legislator assignments, and the legislative bills to discuss. Surgeons spoke with legislators about several high-priority bills, including:

• Support for bills extending the required notice period health insurer must give to health care providers about material changes to provider manuals or reimbursement rules from 60 days to 65 days (HB 2579/SB 2550)
• Support banning downcoding, making unilateral changes to provider contracts, requires human review of artificial intelligence claims denial (HB 2619/SB 2155)
• Support increasing TennCare reimbursement rates to 110 percent of the Medicare Fee Schedule (HB 2046/SB 2080)
• Oppose expansion of optometric scope of practice to include laser and minor surgical procedures (HB 1952/SB 2076)

TMA provided attendees with materials summarizing these policy positions to leave with legislators.

The surgical residents met with Representatives Becky Massey (R), Justin Lafferty (R), Dave Wright (R), and Senator Richard Briggs, MD (R).

Throughout the day, Tennessee physicians reinforced a clear message: engagement in the legislative process is essential to protecting patients, strengthening the healthcare workforce, and ensuring sound health policy.

Support Bill to Stop Cuts to Work RVUs

Representatives Ron Estes (R-KS) and Thomas Suozzi (D-NY) have introduced bipartisan legislation to stop cuts to surgical work RVUs, and the ACS is leading the fight to generate support for this legislation. Listen to ACS Senior Vice President for Advocacy and Health Policy Christian Shalgian explain how you can help amplify the message.