State focus areas for medicine in 2026: An AMA survey

The American Medical Association (AMA) surveyed 64 medical societies, including those of the 50 states and the District of Columbia, to learn the top areas of concern at the end of 2025 and the beginning of 2026.

“Across the country, physicians are bracing for a year of consequential policy decisions that will directly affect patient care,” AMA CEO and Executive Vice President John Whyte, MD, said in a news release. “This survey shows that state medical societies are united around protecting patient safety, strengthening Medicaid, and addressing a workforce crisis that is straining access to care.”

AMA said the survey shows physician organizations have a unified and urgent need for policy solutions. The organization will help with resources including its new State Advocacy Accelerator Grant Program.

“State medical societies are eligible to apply for AMA grants to accelerate and advance state advocacy campaigns that protect patients, strengthen the practice of medicine, support physicians, and improve health care delivery,” according to the program’s official description.

“Through our new State Advocacy Accelerator Grant Program, the AMA is delivering targeted resources to help physicians drive real impact at the state level and advance smart, evidence-based policies that put patients first,” Whyte said.

This slideshow presents the findings about top priorities of state medical societies. All data come from “A Health Care Agenda: Medicine’s 2026 state policy priorities,” published Jan. 9, 2026, by AMA.