Advocacy Update: July 2026
APA Resources and Activities
Automatic E&M Downcoding Policy Survey
APA has heard from members in several states that they are being impacted by downcoding of is collecting information via a survey about how members are being impacted by the practice of automatic downcoding of Evaluation & Management services by commercial payers to inform our advocacy efforts. Effective July 1, 2026, HCSC’s BCBS plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas implemented automatic downcoding policies. Click here to read more.
Regulatory Activities
APA Advocacy Win: CMS Releases Proposed CY 2027 Physician Fee Schedule
CMS has released the proposed CY 2027 physician fee schedule that includes several changes APA has long advocated for, including greater flexibility for teaching physician telehealth supervision when either the teaching physician or resident is physically located with the patient. Click here to read more.
APA Submits Comments to HHS on the Chronic Disease of Addiction
APA responded to the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Request for Information (RFI) on “the research, development, programs, and policies that have been most successful in improving availability of and access to effective prevention, treatment, and recovery interventions for addiction, mental illness, and co-occurring substance use and mental disorders”. Click here to read more.
APA Urges OMB to Withdraw Proposed Rule on Federal Financial Assistance and APA Members write their Legislators
On May 29, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) published a proposed rule that would make sweeping changes to the current framework that governs grants, cooperative agreements, and other forms of federal financial assistance across all federal agencies. Click here to read more.