Rhode Island

The chapter supported the Health Care Provider Shield Act with successful passage and testified on numerous malpractice bills.

South Carolina

This year, the chapter concluded the two-year legislative session, and with the help of the South Carolina Medical Association, South Carolina ACEP successfully held off a broad scope expansion bill that would have granted unsupervised practice to nonphysicians. The chapter plans to introduce a “physician onsite” bill in 2025 to ensure physician-led care in all emergency departments.

South Dakota

The South Dakota Chapter is using 2025 to begin re-engaging the SD ACEP chapter members and working to get its yearly educational conference back up and running.

Tennessee

TNCEP addressed key issues, including opposing a bill that would have overturned Tennessee’s Corporate Practice of Medicine Act, which prohibits most instances of direct employment of emergency physicians by hospitals; supporting the requirement that physician assistants collaborate with a physician; supporting increased penalties for health care facility assaults; and supporting a bill to limit emergency department boarding (although it failed to pass).

Texas

TCEP played a significant role in overturning the Marsillo v. Dunnick (snakebite) case, ensuring that plaintiffs must prove willful and wanton treatment in emergency malpractice cases. TCEP also led efforts to prevent the closure of the CHRISTUS Spohn Emergency Medicine Residency program by educating hospital administrators on the program’s importance to patients in the community.

Utah

The chapter held its annual Utah Emergency Medicine Physician Summit, which this year featured ACEP Immediate Past President Aisha Terry, MD, FACEP; Don Stader, MD, FACEP; Amal Mattu, MD, FACEP; and other esteemed speakers. The chapter also advocated for minimum standards for freestanding emergency departments, because services and staffing are in danger of being scaled back as the number of facilities continues to increase.

Vermont

Vermont ACEP is advocating for physician-led emergency care and opposing a proposal for standalone emergency departments staffed by nonphysicians. Through a detailed letter to the Green Mountain Care Board, the chapter highlighted the essential role of emergency physicians in ensuring patient safety, care quality, and efficiency, reinforcing the value of physician-led emergency department teams.

Virginia

Chapter leaders successfully advocated for a law requiring a physician be physically present in emergency departments starting in July 2025. Another new law allows family access to patients under Emergency Custody Order/Temporary Detention Order in the emergency department unless the physician deems it unsafe. Opposed by Virginia ACEP, a bill reduced training for nurse practitioner independent practice from five to three years.