ACS Advocacy Brief: April 17, 2025

ACS Responds to Proposed CDC/ASPR Merger

The ACS has joined a coalition letter urging congressional leaders to carefully examine a reorganization proposal from the Department of Health and Human Services that could diminish national medical and public health preparedness. The proposal calls for a merger between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR).

ASPR was established by Congress after the September 11 terrorist attacks, anthrax mailings, and Hurricane Katrina as essential for national health security and readiness for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, as well as catastrophic natural disasters. ASPR administers the MISSION ZERO grant program, which covers administrative costs of embedding military trauma professionals in civilian trauma centers. It also administers the Hospital Preparedness Program, among other critical efforts.

ACS Urges Congress to Fund MISSION ZERO, Neglected Surgical Conditions

As the federal appropriations process kicks off for fiscal year (FY) 2026, the ACS submitted public witness testimony to two subcommittees of the House Appropriations Committee advocating for several key priorities.

The ACS has urged the House Labor, Health, and Human Services Subcommittee to fully fund MISSION ZERO, a program that allows military trauma providers to gain exposure to treating critically injured patients in civilian systems in order to increase readiness for when these units are deployed. The letter also urged funding for the National Health Care Workforce Commission and increased funding for cancer research at the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In addition, the ACS requested that the National Security, State Department, and Related Programs Subcommittee provide $10 million in funding for the State Department to address neglected surgical conditions such as cleft lip and cleft palate, club foot, cataracts, hernias, fistulas, and untreated traumatic injuries in underserved areas in developing countries. Strengthening surgical health systems would include training local surgical teams to provide safe, sustainable, and timely surgical care, and assisting ministries of health to develop and implement national surgical, obstetric, trauma, and anesthesia plans.

Increased Funding Is Recommended for NIH

The Ad Hoc Group for Medical Research—a large coalition of patient and voluntary health groups, medical and scientific societies, academic and research organizations, and industry—has sent a letter to congressional leadership requesting robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) in FY 2026.

The ACS joined more than 500 other organizations in supporting $51 billion for NIH and a $4 billion increase for ARPA-H, a $4.2 billion increase (9.0%) over FY 2025.

The letter notes that “patients across the country—from urban centers to rural communities—benefit from medical research supported by the NIH, which serves as the foundation for nearly every preventive intervention, diagnostic, treatment, and cure in practice today.”

Dr. Patricia Turner Calls for Patient-Centered Advocacy

ACS Executive Director and CEO Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS, sent an email to US-based ACS members earlier this week regarding the College’s advocacy efforts. The email reflected her remarks at the recent Leadership & Advocacy Summit in Washington, DC. The text of the email follows:

Nearly 500 surgeons recently joined us in Washington, DC, for the 4-day Leadership & Advocacy Summit, engaging with other leaders and the advocacy process.

I want to share some of my comments from the meeting, because it may help inform many of you, who may not have been in attendance, about our efforts to advocate on your behalf. Times of transition are always difficult, and it is essential to recognize that our organization is a microcosm of our country. In order to advance the agenda that best serves our surgeon members and our patients, we must focus on the priorities that overlap so that we can work strategically together. Commonality and shared priorities do exist. If we center our patients and support the evidence-based practice of our colleagues in all practice settings, we will make the right decisions, even when the balance is delicate.

At all times, we continue to hold fast to our principles that date back to the beginning of the ACS. Our motto, “To Heal All with Skill and Trust” has not changed. “All” means all—all patients cared for by all surgeons of all specialties. As the House of Surgery, we are unwavering in our 112-year-old commitment to excellence. There is always room at the table for the best and brightest to join our extraordinary profession.

We know about surgery. We are the subject matter experts, the researchers, the clinicians, and the advocates for our patients and colleagues. We must position ourselves as resources for those who make the decisions that impact our practice. Without our input, those without medical training are exerting control over patient care and about our practices. We must continue to work with policymakers on both sides of the aisle to advance what we know best.

Our team in DC is constantly monitoring developments—what is happening in the courts, in the administration, and in Congress. We work diligently to track all proposed changes and assure that our responses are as effective as possible. In order to have an impact and advance our profession, we must maintain an open dialogue.

Last week, on the final day of the Summit, our colleagues participated in more than 200 meetings with lawmakers and their staff on Capitol Hill, advancing our advocacy priorities, some of which are outlined in this short video from Christian Shalgian, our Senior Vice President of Advocacy and Health Policy.

Help us maintain the momentum gained during these meetings. Let your voice be heard on the issues that are important to you. I urge you to contact our advocacy team at ahp@facs.org and use our SurgeonsVoice Advocacy Center to get involved.

Our collective efforts as the House of Surgery can influence policymakers to act in ways that advance patient care. Be part of this process.

Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS
Executive Director & CEO

Register Now for 2025 MIPS Value Pathway 

On April 1, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced that registration to report a Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Value Pathway (MVP) for the 2025 performance year is now open.

MVPs group measures and activities for reporting based on a given specialty or medical condition and are an alternative to traditional MIPS reporting. Individuals, groups, subgroups, and Alternative Payment Model ( Entities can register through December 1, 2025.

Before attempting to register, surgeons should identify the following information:

• An individual at their organization with the Quality Payment Program (QPP) Security Official role. Only these individuals can complete MVP registration.
• The MVP they plan to report.
• The administrative claims measure(s), if applicable, they plan to report.

Surgeons should note that, unlike previous years, they will not be required to select a population health measure to report for 2025. Instead, CMS will calculate all population health measures and apply the highest score.

Surgeons also must consider whether they intend to report the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems for MIPS Survey as one of their required quality measures. To do so, there is a separate registration process.

To register, surgeons should visit the QPP website and sign in using their Health Care Quality Information System Access Roles and Profile System account credentials. For detailed steps, surgeons can visit the 2025 MVP Registration Guide.

For more information, visit the QPP Resource Library or email QualityDC@facs.org.

ACS Fellow Is Confirmed to Lead FDA, ACS Priorities Are Included in Congressional Action

The US Congress has taken on federal health leadership and several ACS priorities previously reported in the ACS Brief:

• ACS Fellow Dr. Makary Confirmed as FDA Commissioner
• ACS Supports Prior Authorization Reform Legislation
• Lawmakers Reintroduce REDI Act to Ease Burden of Student Loan Debt for Physicians
• Lawmakers Introduce Legislation to Reauthorize the MISSION ZERO Grant Program

Working with Congressional Staff Can Advance Legislative Priorities

While it’s important for surgeons to interface directly with members of Congress when the opportunity arises, congressional staff are a key resource that drives the process in advancing your priorities through the legislative process. Learn more about the responsibilities of Congressional Office staff in this addition to the Advocacy 101 video series.

Surgeons Rally for Progress and Purpose at ACS Leadership & Advocacy Summit

Nearly 500 surgeons from across the country gathered in Washington, DC, April 5–8, for the 2025 ACS Leadership & Advocacy Summit—an event that focused on developing exemplary surgical leadership skills and championing critical policies and legislation that will help shape the future of surgery and surgical patient care.

State Advocacy Efforts Tackle Scope of Practice, Prior Authorization, and More

State Affairs: By the Numbers

• Cancer: 238 bills introduced/18 bills enacted
• Prior Authorization: 124 bills introduced/7 bills enacted
• Trauma: 58 bills introduced/3 bills enacted
• Scope of Practice: 140 bills introduced/2 bills enacted
• State Advocacy Days: 8
• State Advocacy Grants: 7 provided

State policymakers play a crucial role in shaping healthcare policy directly impacting surgeons and their practices. The ACS, ACS Fellows, and ACS state chapters are engaging with state legislators and regulators to advance policies supporting surgeons and enhancing patient care and safety.

Since the beginning of 2025, the ACS has reviewed and summarized more than 1,200 bills with the potential to impact surgical practice and patient outcomes. The College uses this information to provide weekly updates. Here’s what the ACS Advocacy team is watching:

• More than 135 scope of practice bills were introduced, with many aiming to grant certified registered nurse anesthetists, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners the authority to practice independently.
• With more than 120 bills introduced nationwide, prior authorization is a major concern for state legislators.
• More than 75 bills addressing professional liability were introduced in state legislatures. Many of these proposals seek to increase or remove caps on damages.
• Workplace violence in healthcare settings is increasing, and more than 25 bills were introduced in state legislatures.
• 85 bills were introduced aimed at requiring health insurers to cover cancer screenings or eliminate cost-sharing for cancer screenings.
• 29 bills aimed at growing Stop the Bleed programs in schools and public buildings were introduced.

To receive the weekly updates directly to your email, contact stateaffairs@facs.org.

Boots on the Ground: Advocacy Days

A significant part of the College’s state advocacy efforts involves participation at state-level Advocacy Days when surgeons have face-to-face meetings with legislators and their staff members. States that held an Advocacy Day included Arkansas, California, Delaware, Florida, Indiana, New York, Tennessee, and Virginia. Advocacy at the state level fosters relationships with state legislators, reinforces the importance of surgeon-led advocacy, and ensures that lawmakers hear directly about the issues from surgeons.