Advocacy doesn't stop in the nation's capital. ACC Advocacy works across the country alongside state chapters and engaged members to address legislative and regulatory issues that affect cardiovascular care. By building relationships with lawmakers, mobilizing grassroots action and elevating the voices of cardiovascular professionals, ACC Advocacy helps shape policies that support cardiovascular clinicians and the patients they serve.

So far this year, Chapters have attended or hosted 16 state legislative events, with seven hosting their first-ever event, met with more than 140 state lawmakers either in-person or virtually, and sent 1,000 grassroots letters or testimony to state legislators. Explore trending health policy issues in the states and highlights spurring progress across the country.

Meeting Highlights: State-by-State

Alaska: ACC's Alaska Chapter helped secure passage of a new law requiring CPR education in public schools. Through testimony delivered by Linda A. Ireland, DO, MBA, FACC, action alerts and practice visits with lawmakers, Chapter members were able to advance the bill to the governor's desk.

Illinois: ACC's Illinois Chapter is leading efforts to expand coverage for coronary artery calcium scoring based on ACC guidelines. Therese Guida, RN, and fellow advocates testified before lawmakers and highlighted the importance of early heart disease detection. The Chapter will continue advancing this and other key priorities during the 2027-2028 legislative session.

Iowa: ACC's Iowa Chapter has worked tirelessly to advance a cardiac emergency response plan (CERP) study bill in the state's legislature. Chapter Executive Lezlie Mestdagh testified multiple times in favor of the bill during this legislative session. With the help of the Iowa CERP coalition, the bill was able to make substantial progress during this year's legislative session.

Maryland: ACC's Maryland Chapter joined forces with the AHA for its annual legislative reception in Annapolis, advocating for Medicaid funding and healthy school lunches. The Chapter also supported legislation to ban insurer downcoding, expand Medicaid tobacco cessation coverage and more. Ankit B. Shah, MD, MPH, FACC, testified in support of an evidence-based screening bill for student athletes, helping elevate the College's voice on cardiovascular policy and patient care across Maryland.

New York: ACC's New York Chapter held its inaugural lobby day in Albany, where Aaron Kithcart, MD, PhD, FACC, secured legislative sponsors for a bill to expand peripheral artery disease testing coverage for at-risk patients. The Chapter also helped advance AED funding and prior authorization reform through the state budget process. In addition, Anne B. Curtis, MD, FACC, testified before the New York City Council in support of restaurant warning labels for high-sodium and high-sugar menu items. The Chapter will continue pursuing key priorities, like banning noncompetes, in the year ahead.

Pennsylvania: ACC's Pennsylvania Chapter spearheaded the passage of S.B. 375, or Greg Moyer's Law, through collaboration with partners including AHA and Project ADAM. The new law strengthens cardiac emergency preparedness in schools by requiring AED access at athletic events and school buildings, CPR-trained staff, cardiac emergency response plans and regular drills.

Rhode Island: ACC's Rhode Island Chapter led efforts to expand coverage of self-measured blood pressure (SMBP) cuffs for eligible pregnant and postpartum women. Advocates like Kayle Shapero, MD, PhD, FACC, and Jamil Halaby III, MSN, AGPCNP-C, AACC, testified before legislative committees, published an op-ed in the Rhode Island Current and engaged lawmakers directly to build support for the bill. The Chapter also partnered with AHA to host a lobby day highlighting the importance of SMBP coverage. While the bill was not included in this year's budget, the Chapter will continue advocating for its passage next session.

Vermont: ACC's Northern New England-Vermont Chapter strengthened its advocacy presence this year by hosting its first-ever lobby day. Led by Tracy Hagerty, MD, FACC, and Rony Lahoud, MD, MPH, FACC, the Chapter advocated for funding for cardiac emergency response plans and AEDs in schools. Coupled with strong grassroots outreach, these efforts helped secure full funding for sudden cardiac arrest preparedness in the state's budget.

Virginia: ACC's Virginia Chapter was highly active during the 2026 legislative session. Robert C. Bernstein, MD, FACC, led successful efforts to ban noncompetes for health care professionals, working with the Medical Society of Virginia and other specialty societies. The Chapter also helped amend proposed medical malpractice legislation and advocated for policies addressing insurer downcoding, prior authorization practices and cardiovascular care for pregnant and postpartum women.

Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, CM-Oct-2026, ACC Advocacy, Health Policy