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AAPM is deeply engaged in advocacy, continuously working to represent the interests of our profession with dedicated AAPM staff, expert consultants, and lobbyists actively monitoring, responding to, and leading initiatives that affect medical physicists.

(November 19, 2025)
Shutdown Ends and Federal Operations Resume
The federal government has reopened after the 42 day shutdown, with a funding bill extending most agency operations through January 30 and restoring several Medicare policies that had expired on October 1. As agencies resume work, researchers are preparing for delays in federal research funding, particularly at the National Institutes of Health, which paused new grant awards during the shutdown and is now facing a significant backlog. Many labs paused projects, deferred grant submissions, or missed scientific conferences while unable to consult with program officers.

White House Prepares New Health Policy Push
The White House announced plans to release a new health care proposal and indicated it may use the reconciliation process if bipartisan negotiations do not advance. Lawmakers expect the framework to focus on lowering insurance costs, expanding health savings accounts, and revisiting portions of the Affordable Care Act. These discussions come as Congress approaches another funding deadline at the end of January, with additional health policy measures likely to be considered in the next funding package.

AAPM Signs JAG Letter Opposing NIH Indirect Cost Cap
AAPM has joined a coalition letter from the Joint Association Group urging Congress to block NIH and OMB from implementing a proposed 15 percent cap on indirect cost recovery for federally funded research. The letter endorses the FAIR model, a transparent framework for calculating the true costs of research, and calls for maintaining current support levels during a two year transition. Because indirect cost recovery is essential for sustaining research infrastructure and compliance across medical physics programs, AAPM’s participation reflects its continued advocacy for a stable and sustainable research environment.

AAPM Joins SSWG Letter Supporting Continued Duty Free Access to Co 60
AAPM also signed a Source Security Working Group letter urging the United States to preserve duty free treatment for Canadian-origin Cobalt 60 under the USMCA and maintain its exemption from tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. The letter highlights that Cobalt 60 is essential for sterilizing approximately 40 percent of single use medical devices and for treating certain cancers, and that disruptions to tariff protections would threaten supply stability and increase costs. The coalition stresses that maintaining current trade protections is critical to U.S. healthcare capacity and to ongoing efforts to expand domestic Cobalt 60 production.

Please contact Lauren DePutter, AAPM’s Director of Government Affairs and External Relations, with any questions or concerns.

How you can help!

Your voice and participation strengthen our advocacy efforts. Numerous opportunities exist for AAPM members to advocate by lending their voices, experiences and collective expertise.

  • Write letters (templates and target contact offices are provided) and engage via our Take-Action webpage
  • Become a state champion through CHAMPS and CHAMPWG
  • Volunteer on key committees including GRAC, ECON or through subcommittees and working groups: WGPVAC, CRCPDS, JMPLSC, and GRPSC

How AAPM is Actively Advocating:

  • Monitoring and Engagement: Our staff and dedicated volunteers closely track news, policy actions, and communications from peer and partner organizations. This ensures we are informed and responsive, supporting relevant initiatives beneficial to our members.
  • Informing Membership: Stay updated through the AAPM Newsletter, e-News, association emails, committee updates, meeting sessions, social media, our Take-Action page above, and by direct contact with staff and volunteers.
  • Working Collaboratively: AAPM has worked to establish a close and cooperative working relationships with numerous government bodies, organizations and key federal agencies, such as the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with a range of medical providers, corporation, suppliers and peer professional societies. AAPM recently spearheaded a joint response to the July 17, 2025 Federal Register notice regarding proposed changes to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program, with 5 peer societies adding their support. Read the response HERE.

Together, we can ensure the voice of medical physicists remains strong, informed, and influential.

 

Activities

Highlights of Recent Activities (2025):

  • AAPM recently spearheaded a joint response to the July 17, 2025 Federal Register notice regarding proposed changes to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR) Program, with 5 peer societies adding their support. Read the response HERE.
  • Supported multiple coalition letters advocating for robust federal funding of NIH and NSF research programs.
  • Endorsed ASTRO’s ROCR bill aimed at enhancing radiation oncology reimbursement.
  • Initiated a "Take-Action" campaign opposing indirect funding caps at NIH, successfully mobilizing over 90 advocacy messages to Congressional offices.
  • AAPM leadership approved an official Advocacy Agenda, a strategic roadmap to guide our government relations efforts moving forward.
  • AAPM’s inaugural Advocacy Day (Hill Day) scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2025 immediately following our Annual Meeting.
  • Launched CHAMPS, a state-level grassroots advocacy program:
    • The Steering Subcommittee is actively recruiting and training state volunteers.
    • This program sets targeted advocacy goals and provides training resources to enhance state-level advocacy.
  • Strengthened partnerships and provided training through CRCPDS, enhancing our relationships with federal and state radiation programs.
  • ECON Committee diligently monitors and prepares for annual CMS rule cycles, offering training to members and submitting formal comments on behalf of medical physicists.
  • Through WGPVAC, we proactively engaged for the Veterans Affairs Hospitals—the nation’s largest healthcare system—to safeguard medical physics contracts crucial for patient care. AAPM previously facilitated the introduction of HR6800 to address hiring and retention challenges for therapy physicists within the VA, and we’re actively pursuing its reintroduction and expansion to diagnostic physicists.

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