Policy & Advocacy
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AACOM Spearheads Bill to Expand Community-Based Training in Medically Underserved Communities
Introduced by Representatives Carol Miller (R-WV), Marc Veasey (D-TX), Sam Graves (R-MO) and Troy Carter (D-LA) in the Senate, the Community Training, Education, and Access for Medical Students (Community TEAMS) Act (H.R. 3885) creates a new Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant program that funds medical school clinical rotations in rural and underserved areas.
Stay tuned for updates and ways you can help expand training opportunities for medical students and increase access to care for rural and underserved populations.
Community TEAMS Act Resources
Take Action – Tell your Members of Congress to support the Community TEAMS Act today!
H.R. 3885 Bill Text – Learn what the Community TEAMS Act does.
Community TEAMS Act One Pager - Learn more about the purpose, background, and impact of the Community TEAMS Act.
Questions? Please contact aacomgr@aacom.org with any questions and if you want to be actively involved in advancing this key priority.
AACOM Spearheads Bill for DO Residency Fairness
Reintroduced by Representatives Diana Harshbarger (R-TN), Chellie Pingree (D-ME), Sam Graves (R-MO), Carol Miller (R-WV) and Don Davis (D-NC), the Fair Access In Residency (FAIR) Act (H.R. 2314) ensures
that Medicare-funded residency programs accept DO applications and their licensing exam, the COMLEX-USA.Stay tuned for updates and ways you can help ensure DO applicants have fair access to residency programs.
FAIR Act Resources
- Take Action – Tell your Members of Congress to support the FAIR Act today!
- H.R. 2314 Bill Text – Learn what the FAIR Act does.
- FAIR Act One Pager - Learn more about the purpose, background, and impact of the FAIR Act.
- FAIR Act Coalition Letter - More than 70 organizations support the FAIR Act and are ready to advance the bill.
Questions? Please contact aacomgr@aacom.org if you have questions and want to be actively involved in advancing this key priority.
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AACOM and ACOI Host Joint Congressional Briefing on Rural Health
On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, AACOM and the American College of Osteopathic Internists (ACOI) hosted a joint congressional lunch briefing, “Rural and Underserved Health: DOs Mending the Breach.” The briefing was presented in partnership with the Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus and with support from the National Rural Health Association.
The hour-long briefing included presentations on the history of osteopathic medicine, the community-based distributed model of education and the role the osteopathic profession plays in serving rural and underserved populations.
Featured speakers included:
- Robert A. Cain, DO, FACOI, FAODME, president & chief executive officer, AACOM
- Robert T. Hasty, DO, FACOI, FACP, president, ACOI, and dean & chief academic officer, Orlando College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, DO, FACOFP, president, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Representative Carol Miller (R-WV), lead sponsor of the Community TEAMS Act and a cosponsor of the FAIR Act, provided recorded remarks for the briefing.
AACOM Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Health Affairs Dave Bergman and ACOI Deputy Executive Director Tim McNichol also highlighted bipartisan policy solutions to improve healthcare in rural and underserved communities, including the FAIR Act and the Community TEAMS Act. More than 45 congressional staffers attended this important event.
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Engagement & Resources
June 30, 2025
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Senate HELP Committee Holds Nomination Hearing for CDC Director
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Two Accreditation Bills Considered During House Education and Workforce Committee Markup
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Recent Public Statements
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AACOM Submits Comments to HHS Calling for GME Regulatory Changes (pdf)
July 15, 2025
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More than 50 National and State Organizations Sign Community TEAMS Act Coalition Letter (pdf)
July 14, 2025
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AACOM Urges HELP Committee to Increase THCGME Funding in Coalition Letter (pdf)
July 01, 2025
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AACOM Signs ACE Letter Urging Changes to Higher Education Provisions in Senate Reconciliation Bill (pdf)
June 30, 2025
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AACOM Signs Healthcare Community Letter on Higher Education Provisions in the Senate Budget Reconciliation Bill (pdf)
June 25, 2025
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AACOM Submits Feedback on Reconciliation Package to Sen. Bernie Sanders (pdf)
June 24, 2025
Leadership Programs & Opportunities
AACOM's Leadership Institute
AACOM's Leadership Institute offers two health policy programs: an internship for current DO students and a fellowship for practicing or teaching osteopathic physicians.
Register With AACOM's Talent Bank!
If you'd like to serve on federal and state commissions, national boards, task forces or committees, or be an OME spokesperson with the media or a mentor to students, then join a network of individuals dedicated to furthering the excellence of OME.
Your registration does not obligate you to serve in a particular role. AACOM will seek your approval prior to nomination or media outreach. Download our flyer to learn more.
You'll find our latest advocacy updates, blog posts and Calls to Action. Be sure your voice is heard on issues impacting osteopathic medical education and student financial aid.
Contact Us
AACOM Government Relations
7700 Old Georgetown Road, Suite 250
Bethesda, MD 20814
aacomgr@aacom.org