The healthcare landscape is changing faster than ever. Across both the state and federal levels, new policies, technologies, and economic realities are reshaping how we practice medicine and how our patients receive care. However, amid all this transition, the KMA’s commitment to advocate for physicians and the patients we serve remains strong.
In Kentucky, discussions continue around Medicaid funding, workforce shortages, and access to care, which are all issues that have a direct impact on our practices and our patients. Meanwhile, administrative burdens, reimbursement issues, and staffing difficulties remain everyday realities for many of us. As always, KMA works closely with policymakers to ensure that any healthcare reforms strengthen, not strain, the physician-patient relationship.
At the federal level, changes are also underway that could significantly affect the way we deliver care. Ongoing discussions around Medicare payment reform, value-based care expansion, and telehealth coverage are shaping the national conversation. The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) comes with a tremendous amount of change for healthcare delivery. KMA, together with the AMA, is making sure Kentucky physicians understand its impact and that practice sustainability and patient care is at the forefront of all discussions.
KMA will continue to help physicians navigate these changes thoughtfully, ensuring that new systems and policies support rather than hinder our ability to provide high-quality care.
And although the 2026 session is still several months away, we are already working in the background to elevate the physician voice. We remain focused on reducing administrative burdens, ensuring fair reimbursement, protecting the physician-led care team, and supporting physician wellness. Our advocacy team regularly engages with legislators and other stakeholders to advance policies that enable physicians to do what they do best: care for patients.
As we move forward, the need for physician engagement has never been greater. Every conversation with a policymaker, every email to a legislator, and every effort to mentor the next generation of physician leaders strengthens our profession’s collective influence. Through programs like the Kentucky Physicians Leadership Institute and our ongoing advocacy initiatives, KMA is equipping physicians to lead in this era of change.
Healthcare will continue to evolve, but I hope that Kentucky physicians can take comfort in knowing that KMA will remain a steady voice for our profession. Together, we can meet whatever changes lie ahead and ensure that the future of medicine in Kentucky remains strong.