Heart of Health Policy | 6 Advocacy Wins Secured, More
6 Advocacy Wins Secured: Congress Passes Critical Health Funding Bill
Congress has passed an appropriations package funding Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies for the remainder of fiscal year (FY) 2026, and the President has signed the bill into law. The legislation includes several high-priority provisions championed by the ACC that will strengthen cardiovascular care, support clinicians and improve patient access.
Key victories in the final bill include:
Key victories in the final bill include:
- Extending telehealth flexibilities through Dec. 31, 2027.
- Reestablishing in-home cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation services through Jan. 1, 2028.
- Increasing funding for the National Institutes of Health and maintaining funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- Authorizing support for state-based maternal mortality review committees through FY 2030.
- Reauthorizing clinician well-being programs through FY 2030.
- Boosting funding for valvular heart disease research and awareness initiatives.
These wins showcase the direct impact of member engagement in ACC's annual Legislative Conference, grassroots alerts, advocacy days and practice visits. Together, these efforts helped ensure that ACC priorities remained front and center throughout the legislative process.
"As we navigate the next 10 months with this Congress, I am optimistic about our potential to achieve even greater progress together," says ACC Health Affairs Committee Chair William A. Van Decker, MD, FACC. "Let us build on this momentum and work collaboratively to address other key ACC policy priorities."
ACC Advocacy will continue to advance policies that support clinicians, expand access to care and drive better patient outcomes. Visit ACC.org/Advocacy for the latest updates.
Policy Perspectives Shaping Cardiology at ACC.26
Several sessions at ACC.26, taking place March 28-30 in New Orleans, LA, promise to deliver useful insights and meaningful discussions on a range of advocacy and policy topics.
Don't miss conversations on the Heart2Heart Stage diving into issues like:
- The payment reform landscape.
- Health equity and access in rural areas.
- The impact of private equity and noncompete agreements.
- Examples of advocacy at work in sports cardiology, maternal health and vascular medicine.
Explore the ACC.26 program planner for more advocacy sessions.
Engage With HeartPAC
Between sessions, drop by the HeartPAC Lounge to get your policy questions answered by the experts, connect with other advocacy enthusiasts, and learn more about the Annual HeartPAC Reception, held Sunday, March 29. Visit HeartPAC.org for more information.
Keywords: Cardiology Magazine, ACC Publications, CM-Mar-2026, Health Policy, ACC26, ACC Advocacy, Congress
