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.
Call to Action: Bill Takes Aim at Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Efficiency Adjustment
Legislation has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives to stop the 2.5 percent Medicare cut to work Relative Value Units (RVUs) for all non-time-based physician fee schedule services. The cut, which took effect on January 1, 2026, stems from a new “efficiency adjustment” policy finalized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) last November. CMS instituted the policy because it assumes that, for non-time-based services, providers accrue gains in efficiency over time.
As we begin another exciting year, I want to say just how thrilled I am to reconnect with all of you. Whether you’re starting your first didactic year, navigating clinical rotations, or preparing for residency applications, every stage is filled with opportunities to grow, learn, and deepen your passion for internal medicine.
February Student of the Month: Maria Fricko, OMS-III
Maria Fricko is a deeply committed student doctor and natural leader who consistently demonstrates initiative, compassion, and a strong drive to uplift both her peers and her broader community.
Why Medical Education Must Integrate Paramedicine Now
Medicine today is evolving rapidly—not just in what we know clinically, but in where and how care is delivered. For decades, medical training has focused on hospital-based care and outpatient clinic experiences, often sidelining one of the most impactful sectors of modern health care: paramedicine.
February offers us a timely opportunity to focus on an issue that remains at the very center of our mission as osteopathic internists: the ongoing challenge of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Spending Package Includes Significant Health Measures
On February 3, President Trump signed into law a $1.2 trillion spending package that ended a brief partial federal government shut down. The package is notable for the numerous bipartisan health care provisions, including an extension of Medicare telehealth flexibilities through December 31, 2027.
Each year, ACOI honors its members with awards that reflect their impressive contributions to the osteopathic internal medicine community. Nominations are now open for the 2026 Teacher of the Year, Researcher of the Year, and Internist of the Year awards.
