Legislative Advocacy

ACCMA and CMA are fighting every day for your practice and your patients. From ensuring that you receive fair payment from government and private insurance to professional liability protections under MICRA, from scope of practice issues to Medi-Cal/Medicare reimbursement rates, ACCMA works to uplift the voices of Bay Area physicians. 

Current Legislation

The California Medical Association (CMA) is distinguished by its legislative, legal and regulatory advocacy on behalf of the physicians and patients of California. Click here to view the top State and Federal bills that CMA has been tracking during the 2023-2024 legislative session.

ACCMA Advocacy

  • Support for Assembly Bill 2271 (Ortega) - St. Rose Hospital (Letter)
  • Support for California Proposition 35 - Provides Permanent Funding for Medi-Cal Health Care Services Initiative Satute (Letter)
  • ACCMA Signs Onto Two Clean Air Letters

Legislative and Advocacy Resources

Elected Officials

Throughout the year, ACCMA will send members alerts about bills that are considered in the State Legislature, U.S. Congress, and County Board of Supervisors. Making a quick call, sending a short email, or tweeting your elected officials helps show our strength and get our message across. Click here to find contact information and to learn more about your local, state, and federal representatives. 

Important Documents About the CA State Legislature

Conducting the Meetings: Dos & Don'ts

Learn how to conduct a meeting with legislators: how to prepare, what to bring with you, how to navigate last-minute changes, and following up. To listen to ACCMA's podcast, please click here.

Understanding the Legislative Process & Relationship Building

Take a deeper dive into the legislative process, how a bill really becomes a law, how you can affect the outcome, and understand how to develop relationships with individual legislators. To access ACCMA's free program, please click here.

How to Get Involved

Key Legislative Contacts Program

  • Advocate on behalf of the physician community and your patients by offering your expertise and experience. Work with us and CMA’s grassroots advocacy team to build personal relationships with your legislators. We would like to identify a few physicians who are willing to build relationships with their legislator, be first point of contact when we need to reach out to their legislator, be invited to attend potential fundraising events, and potentially host a fundraiser. If you are interested in participating in the Key Legislative Contacts Program, please contact us

  • The ACCMA offers an annual one-day advocacy training course for physicians to learn more about the legislative process and how to effectively influence the process. It includes opportunities to practice your advocacy skills through mock legislative meetings. For more information about the next training, please contact us.  

Hosting a Fundraiser

  • Whether you are hosting a fundraiser for an elected legislator or a candidate, there are a few steps to consider in the process to ensure your event is as effective as possible. Consider these preliminary steps below as you start, don’t hesitate to contact CMA’s Political Operations team with further questions. For a checklist, please click here

Join the Legislative Committee

The Legislative Committee conducts political action on behalf of the ACCMA; meets with elected officials to advocate for legislation and policy changes; evaluates candidates for local, state and federal offices representing this community and makes recommendations to the ACCMA's and CMA's political action committees. To apply, click here. Committee nominations are accepted year-round. Contact the ACCMA with any questions at (510) 654-5383 or accma@accma.org.  

Donate to ACCPAC

The most effective way to achieve favorable policy outcomes is to elect candidates who share our perspective on health care issues. By donating to CALPAC (at the state level) and ACCPAC (at the local level), you can help provide financial support to physician-friendly candidates whose views are aligned with ACCMA and CMA policy positions. These PACs are nonpartisan. Click here to contribute.