ACP policy update 2025: A conversation with Brian E. Outland, PhD

At the American College of Physicians (ACP) Internal Medicine Meeting 2025, Medical Economics spoke with Brian Outland, PhD, director of regulatory affairs at ACP, for an in-depth conversation on the most pressing health policy developments affecting primary care physicians today.

Throughout the interview, Outland explains the real-world impact of sweeping federal changes — including the reorganization of HHS, workforce reductions, Medicaid funding threats, value-based care uncertainty and regulatory freezes — on independent and community-based medical practices.

Key topics include:

• How HHS restructuring and staff cuts may delay reimbursements and appeals
• The downstream risks of Medicaid cuts for patient access and practice stability
• Why funding freezes at the VA and NIH could hinder innovation and training
• ACP’s advocacy for practices invested in value-based care
• The danger of regulatory and communication silences for physicians adopting new tech

“We’re not sure what’s going to be in the rule,” Outland said of the upcoming Physician Fee Schedule. “Will physicians have to make changes? Will that rule even come out?”

Watch the full conversation for policy insights, action steps, and what ACP is doing to ensure clinicians aren’t left navigating the chaos alone.

For more, check out our recap of Outman's session, "Hot Issues in Health Policy 2025," with Shari Erickson, MPH, ACP’s chief advocacy officer and SVP for governmental affairs and public policy, and George Lyons Jr., JD-MBA, director of legislative affairs and EVP of ACP services.