State-By-State Highlights

Your Guide to the 2026 Medicare Proposed Rules

All you need to know about the 2026 Medicare proposed rules is in one easy-to-find place! Explore the guide.

Your ACC submitted formal comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rules. The team is now on the lookout for the final rules, expected to drop in early November.

California

ACC's California Chapter hosted its annual lobby day in Sacramento, focusing their advocacy efforts on prior authorization reform and coverage for obesity medication. The Chapter also joined the California Medical Association in activating its membership to protect Medi-Cal funds from reappropriation by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Illinois

Spearheading legislation to ensure annual peripheral artery disease screening coverage for at-risk patients, Therese Guida, RN, represented ACC's Illinois Chapter in delivering compelling testimony to the Illinois Senate Insurance Committee. The Committee voted unanimously in favor of the bill, which then ultimately passed the legislature and was signed into law by Gov. JB Pritzker.

Indiana

ACC's Indiana Chapter met in February for its annual legislative day, engaging state legislators on health policy issues impacting cardiovascular clinicians and patients. The Chapter advocated for legislation aimed at banning noncompete agreements for all specialty physicians. Indiana Chapter Governor Vijay Rao, MD, FACC, garnered the support of the Indiana State Medical Association and their House of Delegates to help get this bill passed. Other priorities that successfully passed this session include prior authorization reform and the first tobacco tax increase since 2007.

Massachusetts

ACC's Massachusetts Chapter started the 2025 session by pushing for bills to mandate CPR certification as a high school graduation requirement and to increase the availability of AEDs at sporting events. Massachusetts Chapter Governor Michelle Hadley, DO, FACC, hosted State Senator Robyn Kennedy at her practice, where they were able to discuss these bills before their committee hearings. Katie Stewart, NP, ACNP, AACC, then testified before the state's Joint Education Committee in support of CPR training and certification. The Chapter will continue to advocate for these bills throughout the remainder of the 2025-2026 session.

New Mexico

ACC's New Mexico Chapter members partnered with fellow medical societies to defeat a bill that would have required echocardiograms and electrocardiograms (ECGs) for nearly every newborn in the state. This effort to oppose the bill was led by Sergio Bartakian, MD, FACC, Daniel Brown Friedman, MD, FACC, and Carolina Ponce Orellana, MD, FACC. The Chapter organized a grassroots campaign, testified at committee hearings and met with dozens of state lawmakers to provide education on the issue. The Chapter plans to continue advocating for evidence-backed policies and congenital heart disease awareness.

North Dakota

ACC's North Dakota-Great Plains Chapter built its advocacy presence during the state's biennial session by joining the American Heart Association's (AHA's) lobby day in Bismark. North Dakota Chapter Governor Mevan N. Wijetunga, MD, FACC, and Aaron Smith, MD, FACC, advocated for cardiac emergency response plans in schools and raising the commercial tobacco tax. The Chapter also engaged with state legislators on prior authorization reform. Both the cardiac emergency response and prior authorization bills were signed into law by Gov. Kelly Armstrong.

Nevada

With the goal of preventing adverse outcomes from sudden cardiac arrest in schools, Alfred Danielian, MD, FACC, led efforts by ACC's Nevada Chapter to advance a Smart Heart bill. Danielian hosted a legislator practice visit with State Assemblymember Hanadi Nadeem, securing a sponsor for the bill. The Chapter then launched an extensive media campaign to raise awareness and support and participated in the hearing, with Danielian co-presenting the bill and several other members providing in-person, virtual or written testimony. The bill was signed into law by Gov. Joe Lombardo in June. The Chapter also defeated a last-minute provision in S.B. 192 that would have required ECGs for all athletes in certain counties.

South Carolina

ACC's South Carolina Chapter convened in April 2025 for its state lobby day. Members focused on the need for prior authorization reform as well as a Smart Heart Sports Coalition bill to improve access to AEDs and implement sudden cardiac arrest response plans for student athletes. The event was a crucial opportunity for the Chapter to build relationships with policymakers and advocate for legislation to improve the delivery of cardiovascular care in communities throughout South Carolina.

Virginia

Throughout their 30-day legislative session, ACC's Virginia Chapter was highly active. Robert C. Bernstein, MD, FACC, a member of ACC's Health Affairs Committee and advocacy chair for the Virginia Chapter, urged Gov. Glenn Youngkin to sign bills promoting insurance carrier transparency and safety for hospital workers into law. All bills endorsed by the Chapter were enacted.

Tennessee

ACC's Tennessee Chapter collaborated with AHA to host its annual lobby day in Nashville. Uniting with cardiovascular professionals from across the state, members emphasized how funding for AEDs in schools, heart-healthy school meals and reduction in youth tobacco use could positively impact Tennessee communities. "The Tennessee Chapter came together to advocate for our shared issues to improve heart health for all Tennesseans," said Samuel O. Jones IV, MD, MPH, FACC. "We thank lawmakers for their time and look forward to building on this day."