ACOI Congratulates Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) Leaders Steve Winn and Michelle Winn Larson
On January 1, 2026, the Florida Osteopathic Medical Association (FOMA) had a major change in its leadership; after 51 years of service, Steve Winn, the former executive director, has retired, and Michelle Winn Larson has been selected as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the organization.
Grief in Medicine: There Is No Right Way to Carry It
I began medical school at the same time my father was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. What should have been a season defined by anatomy labs, white coats, and new beginnings was instead marked by oncology appointments, emergency department visits, ICU admissions, and long conversations that never felt long enough. While I was learning how to become a physician, my family and I were learning how to live with uncertainty.
Recently, I reread the Osteopathic Oath I took during my white coat ceremony in 2024. At the time, it felt like a milestone marking the beginning of my training. Now, I understand it as a call to live with purpose.
The ACOI is proud to participate in DO Day on Capitol Hill, sending physician leadership to Washington, DC to ensure the osteopathic voice is heard on issues impacting internists, patient access, and physician-led care.
Call to Action: Senate Committee Examines Contributors to Physician Burnout
The Senate Aging Committee held a hearing on February 11 on the subject of how administrative and regulatory red tape fuels physician burnout and impacts patient access to care. ACOI members can voice their support of the Seniors’ Act by contacting their members of Congress through the ACOI Action Center.
CMS Announces Rate Bump for Medicare Advantage Plans
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is proposing an increase of 0.09 percent, or over $700 million, in Medicare Advantage (MA) payments to plans in CY 2027.
Physician Names Released for Required Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM) Participation
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has released a searchable database of physicians who will be required to participate in new payment models for heart failure and lower back pain starting January 1, 2027. The models will run for five years.
ACOI Joins the Osteopathic Community in Reaffirming Commitment to Unimpeded Access to Care
ACOI has joined the osteopathic community in a statement reaffirming a commitment to unimpeded access to care for all individuals. The statement follows reports of immigration enforcement activity in and around hospitals and emergency rooms and concerns that patients will avoid treatment.
ACOI Joins Call for Oversight of ICE Detention Facilities
In response to mounting reports of how individuals held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) family detention facilities have been denied necessary medical care, a letter with the support of ACOI and 16 other medical societies was sent to congressional leaders on February 9 in advance of Department of Homeland Security oversight hearings.
Call to Action: ACOI Endorses Physician Workforce Legislation
ACOI has endorsed the bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 (S. 2439 / H.R. 4731), which would add 2,000 Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME) slots annually over seven years, for a total of 14,000 new positions.
