Background
COVID-19 has caused a worldwide pandemic affecting all parts of the United States, the world and health care.
Where We Stand
ACP is advocating for measures that the federal government, state governments and private sector stakeholders can take to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and be better prepared for future public health challenges. These measures must include increased support for physicians, other health care workers and the health care system. Additionally, we must have equitable access and coverage for testing, treatments and vaccines.
What's New
- Internal Medicine Physicians Appreciative of Supreme Court Decision on COVID-19 Vaccination Misinformation鈥 6/26/2024
- 2/15/2024
- 听3/16/2023
- 11/30/2022
- Nation鈥檚 Health Care Organizations Urge COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination and Treatment 11/21/2022
COVID-19 Clinical Resources
These resources are meant to assist internal medicine physicians seeking to prepare and manage their response.
COVID-19 Clinical Resources
COVID-19 Practice Management Resources
This toolkit is intended to help practices now and in the coming weeks make adjustments due to COVID-19.
COVID-19 Practice Management Resources
- Access to Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
- Support for Physician Practices
- Coverage & Access for Testing and Treatment
- Public Health, Non-Discrimination, and Health System Capacity
- GME & Other Physician Workforce Issues
- Prescription Drug Issues
- Advocacy with Congress on COVID-19 Legislation
Access to Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
ACP has been advocating to ensure that physicians have an adequate supply of personal protection equipment (PPE) to keep themselves and their patients safe.
- Policy 4/17/2020
- Policy 4/1/2020
Latest Advocacy Efforts
- StatementInternists to Congress: More Needed to Support and Protect Physicians and Patients during COVID-19 4/13/2020
- Letter 4/13/2020
- Letter 4/3/2020
- SummarySummary and Outcomes of Key Priorities in the CARES Act and Other COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation 4/3/2020
- SummarySummary of Key Health Provisions in COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation in, the CARES Act, H.R. 748, as Enacted 4/3/2020
- StatementInternists Say Defense Production Act must be used to Produce PPE 4/2/2020
- Letter 4/2/2020
Support for Physician Practices
ACP has been advocating for support for medical practices in order to alleviate the extreme financial and logistical strains that are being placed on practices.
- Policy 4/1/2020
- Policy 3/24/2020
Latest Advocacy Efforts
- Letter 3/31/2022
- StatementPassage of the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act is Critical for Addressing the Mental Health Needs of our Nation鈥檚 Doctors Say Internists 2/22/2022
- Letter 1/7/2022
- Letter 11/1/2021
- Letter 10/25/2021
- Letter 3/16/2021
- Letter 3/15/2021
Coverage and Access for Testing and Treatment
ACP believes that access to testing and treatment is key to combatting COVID-19, adequate health insurance coverage for testing and treatment is a critical component of access.
- Policy 7/25/2022
- Policy 9/14/2021
- Policy 9/14/2021
- Policy 9/1/2021
- Policy 8/16/2021
- Policy 1/11/2021
- Policy 11/24/2020
- Policy 4/17/2020
Latest Advocacy Efforts
- StatementNation鈥檚 Health Care Organizations Urge COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccination and Treatment 11/21/2022
- Letter 8/16/2022
- StatementInternists Say Administration鈥檚 Increased Efforts Quickly Needed in Fight Against COVID鈥 12/21/2021
- StatementInternists Say Administration鈥檚 Efforts to Continue Fight Against COVID are Critical鈥 12/2/2021
- Statement 11/18/2021
- Letter 10/13/2021
- StatementACP Supports the Use of Science and Evidence for COVID-19 Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatments, Cautions Against Interference 9/17/2021
- StatementACP Supports ACIP Recommendation of Full FDA Approval for Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine 9/1/2021
Public Health, Non-Discrimination, and Health System Capacity
ACP has been advocating for policies that will help to protect public health and preserve our health system capacity while fighting COVID-19.
- Policy 9/14/2021
- Policy 9/14/2021
- Policy 8/16/2021
- Policy 1/11/2021
- Policy 7/13/2020
- Policy 5/6/2020
- Policy 4/17/2020
- Policy 3/26/2020
- Policy 3/26/2020
Latest Advocacy Efforts
- Statement 2/15/2024
- Letter 11/30/2022
- Letter 8/15/2022
- Letter 4/1/2022
- SummaryACP Response to the Senate HELP Committee on the PREVENT Pandemics Act 2/2/2022
- StatementInternists Say Vaccine Requirements Critical to Combating COVID-19 Pandemic 1/14/2022
- Letter 1/7/2022
- StatementInternists Say Administration鈥檚 Increased Efforts Quickly Needed in Fight Against COVID鈥 12/21/2021
- Statement 11/18//2021
- StatementInternists Support Administration's New Vaccine Requirements 11/4/2021
GME & Other Physician Workforce Issues
A strong physician workforce is essential to combatting the threat of COVID-19.
Latest Advocacy Efforts
- StatementInternal Medicine Physicians Concerned About Relaxed Approach to Paxlovid Prescribing 7/8/2022
- Letter 4/1/2022
- Testimony 2/15/2022
- Letter 2/10/2022
- Letter 2/8/2022
- Testimony 2/2/2022
- SummaryACP Response to the Senate HELP Committee on the PREVENT Pandemics Act 2/2/2022
- Testimony 2/1/2022
Prescription Drug Issues
ACP is concerned about the potential for drug shortages and price gouging while we are facing the threat of COVID-19.
Latest Advocacy Efforts
- StatementInternists to Congress: More Needed to Support and Protect Physicians and Patients during COVID-19 4/13/2020
- Letter 4/13/2020
- Letter 3/30/2020
Advocacy with Congress on COVID-19 Legislation
Congress has passed several comprehensive pieces of legislation to address the national emergency created by COVID-19. ACP has advocated to ensure that physician priorities are addressed in this legislation and will continue to advocate for those priorities to be included in any future legislation.
Latest Advocacy Efforts
- StatementInternal Medicine Physicians Appreciative of Supreme Court Decision on COVID-19 Vaccination Misinformation鈥 6/26/2024
- Letter听3/16/2023
- Letter听9/27/2022
- Letter 7/26/2022
- StatementInternal Medicine Physicians Say Congressional Action Needed to Ensure Continued Access to COVID-19 Testing and Treatments 3/16/2022
- Letter 2/25/2022
- StatementExtending Telehealth Measures Important Step for Care Delivery Say Internists鈥 2/8/2022
- SummaryACP Response to the Senate HELP Committee on the PREVENT Pandemics Act 2/2/2022
Search the ACP Policy Library
To access everything ACP has said related to access to care issues search all policy statements, copies of testimony, and letters to government and non-government officials.
Access to Personal Protection Equipment (PPE)
Additional Advocacy Efforts
- Internists Say Physicians Can Bring Their Own PPE and Speak Out on COVID-19 Care Conditions 4/1/2020
- 3/24/2020
- 3/22/2020
- 3/20/2020
- America鈥檚 Frontline Physicians Recommend Further Actions to Address COVID-19 3/18/2020
- 3/12/2020
- Internists Ask Government to Take Additional Steps to Stem the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus 3/4/2020
Support for Physician Practices
Additional Advocacy Efforts
- 3/15/2021
- 2/12/2021
- 2/2/2021
- 12/22/2020
- 12/16/2020
- 11/16/2020
- 11/12/2020
- 11/6/2020
- 10/30/2020
- 9/17/2020
- 8/12/2020
- Internists Say Quality Payment Program Needs to Better Accommodate Physicians Dealing with COVID-19 8/7/2020
- 7/24/2020
- 7/23/2020
- 7/6/2020
- 7/1/2020
- 7/1/2020
- 7/1/2020
- 6/29/2020
- 鈥6/26/2020
- 鈥6/26/2020
- 鈥6/23/2020
- ACP Urges CMS to Extend Flexibilities in the Quality Payment Program Due to the COVID-19 Crisis 6/12/2020
- 6/12/2020
- Internists Encourage Several Major Health Insurers and Associations to Keep Telehealth and Other Flexibilities In Place After the COVID-19 Health Crisis 6/11/2020
- 6/11/2020
- 6/11/2020
- 6/11/2020
- 6/11/2020
- 6/9/2020
- Internists Say Flexibilities for Telehealth and Other Regulatory Waivers Should be Extended 6/4/2020
- 6/4/2020
- 6/1/2020
- 6/1/2020
- 5/22/2020
- Internists Call on HHS to Make a Targeted Allocation of Funds to Keep Primary Care Practices from Closing 5/20/2020
- 5/19/2020
- CMS鈥 Second Interim Final Rule Re: COVID-19 5/19/2020
- 5/19/2020
- 5/14/2020
- 5/12/2020
- 5/7/2020
- CMS Announcement of Pay Parity for Telephone Calls Answers a Top ACP Priority 4/30/2020
- Internists Say Relief Funding Must be Prioritized to Primary Care and Other Frontline Physician Practices to Ensure Continued Care 4/29/2020
- 4/28/2020
- ACP Appreciates Support for Physicians in Congressional Legislation, Says More Needs to Be Done for Patients and Physicians 4/23/2020
- 4/23/2020
- Internists Recommend Additional Steps to CMS to Support Physicians during COVID-19 4/15/2020
- 4/15/2020
- 4/15/2020
- Internists to Congress: More Needed to Support and Protect Physicians and Patients during COVID-19 4/13/2020
- 4/13/2020
- Internists Applaud CMS for Rapidly Distributing Emergency Funding to Physician Practices 4/10/2020
- ACP, Leading Medical Organizations Urge CMS to Pay for Telephone Services at a Level on Par with In-Person Visits 4/8/2020
- 4/8/2020
- 4/7/2020
- Summary and Outcomes of Key Priorities in the CARES Act and Other COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation 4/3/2020
- Summary of Key Health Provisions in COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation in, the CARES Act, H.R. 748, as Enacted 4/3/2020
- Internists Commend CMS Decision to Pay for Telephone Visits, Other Regulatory Changes to Help Physician Practices during COVID-19 Emergency 3/31/2020
- 3/30/2020
- 3/30/2020
- 3/30/2020
- 3/30/2020
- 3/29/2020
- 3/26/2020
- 3/24/2020
- 3/24/2020
- 3/24/2020
- 3/23/2020
- 3/22/2020
- 3/20/2020
- 3/20/2020
- 3/19/2020
- 3/19/2020
- 3/19/2020
- America鈥檚 Frontline Physicians Recommend Further Actions to Address COVID-19 3/18/2020
- 3/18/2020
- 3/17/2020
- 3/11/2020
- Internists Ask Government to Take Additional Steps to Stem the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus 3/4/2020
- 3/3/2020
Coverage and Access for Testing and Treatment
Additional Advocacy Efforts
- ACP Supports ACIP Recommendation for Additional mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Dose and WHO Call for Equitable Global Vaccine Distribution 8/16/2021
- 2/17/2021
- 2/10/2021
- 2/9/2021
- 1/19/2021
- ACP Urges Ethical Allocation of COVID-19 Vaccines, Says Medical Need Should Govern Prioritization 1/13/2021
- 12/23/2020
- 11/17/2020
- 9/17/2020
- 9/10/2020
- 8/11/2020
- 7/21/2020
- CMS鈥 Second Interim Final Rule Re: COVID-19 5/19/2020
- 5/7/2020
- ACP Appreciates Support for Physicians in Congressional Legislation, Says More Needs to Be Done for Patients and Physicians 4/23/2020
- 4/23/2020
- Internists to Congress: More Needed to Support and Protect Physicians and Patients during COVID-19 4/13/2020
- 4/13/2020
- Summary and Outcomes of Key Priorities in the CARES Act and Other COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation 4/3/2020
- Summary of Key Health Provisions in COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation in, the CARES Act, H.R. 748, as Enacted 4/3/2020
- 3/24/2020
- 3/22/2020
- 3/20/2020
- Internists Support Call to Suspend Elective Medical Procedures, Ease Licensing Restrictions; Continue to Call on Government to Do More 3/18/2020
- America鈥檚 Frontline Physicians Recommend Further Actions to Address COVID-19 3/18/2020
- 3/12/2020
- 3/11/2020
- Internists Ask Government to Take Additional Steps to Stem the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus 3/4/2020
- 3/3/2020
Public Health, Non-Discrimination, and Health System Capacity
Additional Advocacy Efforts
- Internists Concerned About COVID-19 Misinformation 9/9/2021
- ACP Supports ACIP Recommendation for Additional mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine Dose and WHO Call for Equitable Global Vaccine Distribution 8/16/2021
- ACP Says Masks Should be Required in Schools 8/13/2021
- 8/10/2021
- 8/9/2021
- 5/12/2021
- 4/28/2021
- 3/25/2021
- Internists Call Biden Administration Actions to Protect Scientific Integrity, Combat Climate Change Promising Sign 1/27/2021
- Internists Applaud Swift Action on COVID-19 by Biden Administration 1/22/2021
- Internists Say Initial Steps of Biden Administration Will Improve Health in the U.S. 1/21/2021
- ACP Supports Plan Outlined by President-elect Biden to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic with Focus on Helping Those Underserved 1/15/2021
- ACP Says Requirements for Masks in Community Settings Should be Expanded to Reduce Transmission of COVID-19 1/13/2021
- In an Unprecedented Move, Seven National Primary Care Organizations Launch Joint Vision to Rewire Primary Care Financing 12/23/2020
- 12/10/2020
- Internists Say Timely Presidential Transition Important to Public Health during COVID-19 Pandemic 11/16/2020
- ACP Stresses Importance of Preventive Measures as COVID-19 Infections Increase 10/28/2020
- 9/22/2020
- 9/17/2020
- 9/10/2020
- 8/19/2020
- Internists Decry Reports of Harassment of Public Health Officials 8/10/2020
- 3/24/2020
- 7/23/2020
- 7/21/2020
- 7/20/2020
- 7/17/2020
- 7/16/2020
- ACP Supports the Use of Scientific Expertise to Stop the Spread of COVID-19 7/14/2020
- New Policy Supports Wearing of Masks to Reduce Transmission of COVID-19 7/14/2020
- 7/10/2020
- AAP, AAFP, ACP and AMA Statement on Official Withdrawal of U.S. from the World Health Organization 7/7/2020
- 7/1/2020
- ACP Leaders Suggest Using 鈥淣ew Vision鈥 to Guide U.S. Health Care Reform during and after COVID-19 Pandemic 6/2/2020
- ACP Offers Clinical and Public Policy Guidance on Partial Resumption of Economic, Health Care and Other Activities While Mitigating COVID-19 Risk 5/7/2020
- 5/6/2020
- 4/29/2020
- 4/28/2020
- Universal DNR Orders, Social Worth, and Life-Years Approaches are Discriminatory and Should Not Be Used to Allocate Resources 4/24/2020
- Internists Say U.S. Funding for WHO is Essential during COVID-19 4/15/2020
- Internists to Congress: More Needed to Support and Protect Physicians and Patients during COVID-19 4/13/2020
- 4/13/2020
- 4/9/2020
- Internists Say Harassment Based on Race or Ethnic Origin is Never Okay 3/31/2020
- Internists Reinforce Recommendations for Social Distancing to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 3/26/2020
- Internists Emphasize Importance of Assessing In-office Visits and Transitioning to Virtual Visits During COVID-19 Emergency 3/25/2020
- 3/12/2020
- 3/11/2020
GME & Other Physician Workforce Issues
Additional Advocacy Efforts
- 1/7/2022
- 9/1/2021
- 6/28/2021
- 5/20/2021
- 5/20/2021
- 5/12/2021
- 4/28/2021
- 9/17/2020
- 7/8/2020
- 07/02/2020
- Internists Urge Withdrawal of Executive Order to Suspend Immigration, Citing Harm to U.S. Health Care 6/23/2020
- 5/20/2020
- 5/14/2020
- 5/12/2020
- Summary of Presidential Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Following the COVID-19 Outbreak 4/23/2020
- Internists Concerned about Health Impact of President Trump鈥檚 Plan to Suspend All Immigration 4/21/2020
- 4/16/2020
- Internists to Congress: More Needed to Support and Protect Physicians and Patients during COVID-19 4/13/2020
- 4/13/2020
- 3/26/2020
Prescription Drug Issues
Additional Advocacy Efforts
Advocacy with Congress on COVID-19 Legislation
Additional Advocacy Efforts
- 1/31/2022
- 11/1/2021
- 9/1/2021
- 6/29/2021
- 6/10/2021
- 5/20/2021
- 5/19/2021
- 5/19/2021
- 5/18/2021
- 5/12/2021
- 4/28/2021
- 4/17/2021
- 3/25/2021
- 3/25/2021
- Internists Say American Rescue Plan Will Help Improve Health Care 3/10/2021
- 3/9/2021
- 3/5/2021
- 2/2/2021
- 2/10/2021
- ACP Says COVID-19 Relief Legislation Advances Essential Policies to Support Patients and Physicians 12/22/2020
- 11/12/2020
- 10/1/2020
- 8/19/2020
- 8/11/2020
- 8/3/2020
- 7/30/2020
- 7/21/2020
- 7/20/2020
- 7/9/2020
- 鈥7/1/2020
- 6/29/2020
- 6/26/2020
- 鈥6/26/2020
- 6/17/2020
- 6/9/2020
- 6/2/2020
- ACP Summary of Key Provisions in the HEROES Act 5/12/2020
- 5/21/2020
- Internists Urge Enactment of Provisions in HEROES Act to Support Physicians and Patients, Call for Prioritizing Primary Care 5/15/2020
- 5/15/2020
- 5/7/2020
- ACP Appreciates Support for Physicians in Congressional Legislation, Says More Needs to Be Done for Patients and Physicians 4/23/2020
- 4/23/2020
- Internists to Congress: More Needed to Support and Protect Physicians and Patients during COVID-19 4/13/2020
- 4/13/2020
- Summary and Outcomes of Key Priorities in the CARES Act and Other COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation 4/3/2020
- Summary of Key Health Provisions in COVID-19 Stimulus Legislation in, the CARES Act, H.R. 748, as Enacted 4/3/2020
- 4/2/2020
- 3/24/2020
- 3/23/2020
- 3/22/2020
- 3/20/2020
- America鈥檚 Frontline Physicians Recommend Further Actions to Address COVID-19 3/18/2020
- 3/17/2020
- 3/13/2020
- 3/12/2020
- 3/11/2020
- Internists Ask Government to Take Additional Steps to Stem the Spread of the Novel Coronavirus 3/4/2020
- 3/3/2020