ACEP Opposes Move to Revive “Public Charge” Policy

ACEP issued a statement in response to the Trump administration’s announcement that it is proposing to reinstate a “public charge” policy that would make it harder for immigrants already legally in the country to obtain a green card if they have used Medicaid or other public programs such as housing assistance or food aid.

“Emergency physicians treat anyone who comes through our doors, 24/7, regardless of immigration status or ability to pay. That is both our ethical commitment and our legal obligation under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA),” said L. Anthony Cirillo, MD, FACEP, President of ACEP. “Federal policy should not drive patients away from primary and preventive care until the emergency department is their only option. If finalized, this rule will deter people from seeking care early, worsen outbreaks of infectious disease, and further strain already overcrowded emergency departments, putting everyone at risk.”

Charting a Course for AI in Health Care

ACEP is bringing experts across the specialty together to shape AI use in emergency medicine. ACEP has established a new Artificial Intelligence Committee and is advocating for policies that prioritize and support physician expertise and decision-making.

On October 21-22, ACEP hosted the inaugural All Emergency Medicine AI Summit at ACEP headquarters in Dallas. The two-day event convened members of the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine, Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors, American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians, American Board of Emergency Medicine, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association, American Academy of Clinical Emergency Medicine, and American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine. to prepare for how AI will transform EM education, research, and clinical practice.

Dr. Cirillo remarked about the summit, “The future is here — let’s build it responsibly together.”

Physician Groups Push Back on Anthem’s Out-of-Network Penalty

ACEP, along with the American Society of Anesthesiologists and American College of Radiology, urged Anthem to reconsider a policy plan to cut facility payments by 10 percent when out-of-network clinicians provide care.

In a joint letter the groups warned that Anthem’s policy, effective January 1, 2026, is unworkable in part because it shifts network adequacy responsibilities onto hospitals and risks disrupting care by pressuring independent physician groups into unfavorable contracts. The groups noted that the move also undercuts the intent of the federal No Surprises Act, which already provides a mechanism for resolving out-of-network payment issues.