OME Advocate Newsletter
Delivered twice-monthly right to your in-box, AACOM's OME Advocate keeps you informed and involved in policy discussions and legislation around healthcare, medical students and osteopathic medical education.
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Join AACOM Government Relations at Educating Leaders 2026!
Educating Leaders, the AACOM Annual Conference, will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada, from April 22-24, 2026. Our conference is the premier gathering for leaders, educators, staff and students from osteopathic medical colleges across the United States. Don’t miss these Government Relations (GR) sessions: Advocating for OME: New Era, New Rules April 23, 2026 | 10:00 – 11:00 AM PT Join David Bergman, JD, AACOM senior vice president of government relations and health affairs, for an in-depth look at recent legislative and regulatory developments affecting osteopathic medical education. He will discuss evolving priorities at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Department of Education (ED), as well as key federal legislation impacting residency access and workforce development. He will also highlight the importance of advocacy and engagement to advance osteopathic principles, policies and influence. April 23, 2026 | 11:15 AM – 12:15 PM PT Kyle Hattenburg, AACOM vice president of undergraduate medical education services, and Julie Crockett, AACOM director of government relations, will join members of AACOM’s Paying for Medical School Taskforce to discuss the changing medical school financing landscape. This session will highlight how rising costs and evolving federal policies are affecting osteopathic medical students and institutions, and share strategies for advocacy, financial literacy and institutional support. There’s still time to register to attend! Advance registration for Educating Leaders 2026 ends on March 10, 2026. For more information and to see the full conference line-up, visit our Educating Leaders home page. |
Advocate for DO Residency Fairness!
Many federally funded graduate medical education (GME) programs treat DO students unfairly in the residency selection process by requiring them to take the MD-licensing exam, the USMLE, or refusing to interview them entirely. DOs incur significant costs to take the USMLE, as well as the emotional strain associated with preparing for an additional test that is not geared toward the osteopathic profession nor needed for licensure.
The Fair Access In Residency (FAIR) Act, H.R. 2314 / S. 2715, addresses these disparities by ensuring that Medicare-funded residency programs accept DO applications and their licensing exam, the COMLEX-USA. Bipartisan congressional support for the FAIR Act continues to grow with 16 cosponsors in the House and eight in the Senate.
With Match week less than one month away, tell Congress to support the FAIR Act to give DO students fair access to residencies and strengthen our healthcare workforce. Urge your elected officials to cosponsor the FAIR Act today!
AACOM Hosts Webinar on Pending Student Loan Changes
- Last month, ED released its Reimagining and Improving Student Education (RISE) proposed rule to implement the federal student loan program changes enacted last year under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, H.R. 1.
- Policy chances under the RISE package include new federal student loan limits, the elimination of the Grad PLUS loan program, updated definitions of “professional” and “graduate” degree programs and repayment plan revisions.
- Comments on the proposed rule are due to ED by March 2, 2026. For more information, visit AACOM’s Student Financial Aid Resources page and watch last week’s webinar featuring education policy experts from Venable LLP and members of the AACOM GR team.
HHS Launches Eat Real Food Initiative
- On February 11, 2026, HHS hosted a public event to formally launch the “Eat Real Food” initiative, highlighting the role of real, whole foods in improving health outcomes and supporting nutrition security.
- AACOM attended the rally, which featured remarks from federal leadership, including HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other stakeholders emphasizing the importance of dietary patterns rich in minimally processed foods. Federal officials framed the campaign as part of a larger strategy to combat diet-related chronic illness, which accounts for a substantial proportion of U.S. healthcare spending and disease burden.
- This follows the January 7, 2026, release of updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 and last year’s push by HHS and ED to bolster nutrition education in U.S. medical school curricula.
- A recording of the event is available on the HHS YouTube channel.
Apply for Final Round of GME Section 126 Slot Distribution
- Applications are open for the final round of applications for 200 Medicare-supported GME positions under Section 126 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which will complete the distribution of 1,000 new GME positions.
- Eligible hospitals include rural designated hospitals, hospitals in states with new medical schools, hospitals over their GME cap and hospitals in health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). GME slots are awarded based on prioritization via HPSA scores with remaining slots allocated to hospitals with the greatest workforce needs.
- More information can be found on the CMS Direct GME website. Applications are due March 31, 2026.
Engagement & Resources
West Virginia Gov. Morrisey Visits WVSOM to Announce Water Infrastructure Project: The West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) hosted West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey on February 9, 2026, for his announcement of a nearby public water line extension project in an area that currently relies heavily on private water sources. The governor’s announcement aligns with WVSOM’s goal of improving the health of people in rural communities. Learn more. |
Applications are Open for the 2026 Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP): The application window closes at 11:59 PM ET on February 27, 2026, for the Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP). HPSP pays 100 percent of tuition and required fees for full-time students in accredited academic programs for health professions related to Veterans Affairs. The HPSP also provides a monthly stipend (currently $1,328) and an annual book stipend. Learn more. |
Grants Forecasted for the HRSA Rural Residency Planning and Development (RRPD) Program: The RRPD program awards up to $750,000 for the development of rural residency programs, including rural track programs. Applications are estimated to open on March 16, 2026, and close on May 15, 2026. Grants are expected to go out in July. Learn more. |
HRSA Upcoming Grant Opportunities for the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP): HRSA posted forecasted grant opportunities for: RCORP-Planning grants, expected to open February 25, 2026, and close April 27, 2026; and RCORP-Impact grants, expected to open March 18, 2026, and close May 18, 2026. The RCORP assists rural communities in planning and implementation efforts to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with substance use disorder. Learn more about the planning and impact opportunities. |
