Physician groups said scope of practice will be the top state health policy issue in 2026, with Medicaid, workforce and telehealth also high priorities

Nearly nine in 10 physician groups said who can deliver and lead patient care will be the top state health policy issue in 2026, according to a survey shared by the American Medical Association (AMA).

Based on survey findings, physician groups across the country are heading into a busy state legislative year as policy decisions threaten to reshape how care is delivered, paid for and regulated in 2026. Released January 9, the survey shows a strong, shared agreement among state and specialty medical groups around a list of urgent priorities focused on patient safety, access to care and the stability of the health system.

The survey was conducted by the AMA Advocacy Resource Center to get an idea of the issues likely expected to take center stage in 2026. Responses were collected from 64 organizations, including all 50 state medical societies, the District of Columbia and many national medical specialty groups.

Respondents were asked in late 2025 to identify their top legislative and regulatory priorities for 2026. Organizations could select multiple issues and provide additional details about areas they expect to address. The AMA then analyzed the responses to identify common themes and areas of agreement across states.

Scope of practice resulted as the most common concern, cited by 89% of respondents. Physician groups reported expecting new legislation from folks outside of the physician realm seeking independent practice authority, prescriptive authority and the ability to diagnose and treat patients without physician supervision.

The authors of the survey stressed that physician-led care is essential for patient safety and for maintaining effective care teams. Authors also noted that its legal experts and scope of practice partnership continue to support state efforts to address these proposals.

Other key areas that were a focus among respondents included Medicaid policy with 72% of respondents planning to be deeply involved in Medicaid legislation or regulation in 2026.

According to the survey, physician reimbursement was found to be the top Medicaid issue, followed by concerns about funding stability, coverage redeterminations, administrative burden, payment models, managed care reform and new federally required community engagement or work requirements. Many medical groups warned that low payment rates and complex rules are already limiting patient access to care.

Physician workforce challenges remain as another concern. For example, about two-thirds of respondents said workforce issues will be a top priority in 2026.

States continue to face physician shortages and uneven distribution of clinicians, problems that have grown worse since the COVID-19 pandemic. Physician groups reported focusing on solutions such as expanding residency positions, securing graduate medical education funding, supporting loan repayment and retention programs and exploring alternative funding models for training physicians.

Medical licensure and telehealth are also expected to draw significant attention this year. Sixty-seven percent of respondents shared they will work on licensure-related issues in 2026. These include creating new licensing pathways for internationally trained physicians, adopting the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact and increasing flexibility for cross-state telehealth care.

Lastly, public health remains a priority even as political divisions continue to shape state debates. For instance, thirty-three states and four national medical specialty societies expect to focus on vaccination policy, which ranked as the top public health issue. Other public health priorities include reproductive health, tobacco and e-cigarette regulation and end-of-life care.

“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, M.D., said in an AMA 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.”

The survey also pointed to many other additional issues that are expected to shape the 2026 policy landscape. These issues include private payer reform, such as prior authorization requirements and payment transparency, and state responses to the growing use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. Many respondents also highlighted implementation of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act as a major focus, with eyes on Medicaid eligibility rules, provider tax changes, rural health programs and marketplace affordability.