b'" ACEP will continue to work to ensure that guidelines developed for the care of patients with sepsis are based upon the strongest and most up to date science This policy update was prompted by expandedand are developed to ensure ease and scope of practice efforts in several states,effectiveness of implementation.including Kentucky. 3. Advocacy HighlightsJanuary 23, 2026: ACEP met with the CMSACEP leaders and staff have been busy engagingDirector of Medicare and Senior Advisor to with officials at the state and federal levelsHHS Secretaryto advance emergency care and the practiceFinally, in a win for patient care in the out-of-environment for emergency physicians. Somehospital setting, the Drug Enforcement Agency highlights include: (DEA) issued the Registering Emergency Medical Services Agencies under the ProtectingJanuary 5, 2026: ACEP Statement Regarding Patient Access to Emergency Medications Act the CDC Limiting Vaccine Recommendationsof 2017 Final Rule, aka the "EMS standing (statement) orders" rule, to ensure continued access toJanuary 8, 2026: Senate Must Act Quickly onpain and anti-seizure medications for patientsExpired ACA Premium Tax Credits to Stabilizeexperiencing medical emergencies.Coverage and Protect Emergency Care (statement)4. Non-endorsement of SurvivingJanuary 12, 2026: ACEP met with the FederalSepsis Campaign Guidelines Trade Commission (FTC) to continue discussions of non-compete clauses in physician contracts On February 2, 2026, ACEP announced that itJanuary 14, 2026: ACEP Raises Alarm Overwill not endorse new sepsis guidelines from the Surviving Sepsis Campaign. The decision to not Abrupt Termination of SAMHSA Grants, Warningendorse the guidelines was based on concerns of Increased Strain on America\'s Emergency Careabout conflicting guidelines for the treatment of Safety Net (statement) adult and pediatric patients, and a belief that theJanuary 16, 2026: ACEP President Tony Cirillo,guidelines developed do not fully reflect the mostMD, FACEP and President-Elect Ryan Stanton, MD,up-to-date and reality-based approach to the FACEP participated in the White House event oncare of all patients in the emergency department, the Rural Transformation Programincluding those with sepsis. In addition, ACEPJanuary 20, 2026: ACEP led a multi- remains deeply concerned that the absence oforganizational letter to CMS on workplaceemergency physician organizational involvement violence signage in the ED in the governance structure of the SurvivingJanuary 22, 2026: ACEP to Congress: StrongerSepsis Campaign serves to limit the perspectives offered by practicing emergency physicians in Policies, Accountability Can Stop Bad Insurerthe United States when guidelines are being Behavior (statement)continue reading on page 25 Winter 2026 21'