The Risks of Rolling Back Vaccine Recommendations
Why the CDC’s Recent Changes Endanger Public Health By: Raymond Pontzer, MD Protecting Our Communities: Vaccines Save Lives Vaccines represent one of the most effective tools humanity has ever deployed in the fight against infectious diseases. Over decades, robust immunization programs have all but eradicated illnesses that once crippled entire populations. As such, any step […]
What a Year! Reflections on an Astonishing 2025 by ACMS President Keith Kanel, MD
By: Keith T. Kanel, MD, MHCM, FACP – 2025 ACMS President On a summer’s day earlier this year, I spent an afternoon with the history of the Allegheny County Medical Society. I wanted to learn about why we do what we do. Settling into the expansive reading room of the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh’s […]
Scholarships That Quietly Strengthen Patient Care in Allegheny County
Scholarships That Quietly Strengthen Patient Care In Allegheny County By: Melanie Mayer You support patient care every day. You also support the systems that keep patient care moving. One part of that work starts long before a patient enters an exam room. It starts with the people training to deliver care here. The ACMS Foundation […]
Digital Wellness for Physicians: How to Protect Your Time, Attention, and Well-Being During the Holiday Season
About The Social Scrub-In: Where Doctors Get Socially Savvy Brought to you by The Corcoran Collective, a marketing firm specializing in strategic storytelling for mission-driven organizations, The Social Scrub-In is a practical blog series created for physicians who want to navigate the digital world with purpose. Each post offers tailored insights to help medical professionals […]
CMS Clarifies Claims Processing During Federal Government Shutdown
As the federal government shutdown continues, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued updated guidance to Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) regarding payment processing and telehealth coverage. Editor’s Note (October 22, 2025) Since this post was originally published during the federal government shutdown, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released […]
Protecting Immunization Access in Pennsylvania: Proposed Legislation and What You Should Know
By: Jenny Bender, MPH, BSN, RN, CIC – Chair, Allegheny County Immunization Coalition Access to immunizations is one of the strongest tools we have for preventing disease and promoting public health. In Pennsylvania, two companion bills—House Bill 1828 and Senate Bill 989—aim to strengthen vaccine access by ensuring consistent insurance coverage and eliminating financial barriers […]
Speaking Up: How to Prepare for Public Panels, Conferences, Podcasts, and Health Forums
About The Social Scrub-In: Where Doctors Get Socially Savvy Brought to you by The Corcoran Collective, a marketing firm specializing in strategic storytelling for mission-driven organizations, The Social Scrub-In is a practical blog series created for physicians who want to navigate the digital world with purpose. Each post offers tailored insights to help medical professionals […]
Supporting Physicians Amid CDC Turnover: Stability in Practice, Continuity in Care
By: Richard B. Hoffmaster, MD – ACMS Secretary 2025 | Chair of the ACMS Advocacy Task Force Change is never easy, especially when it happens within institutions that physicians rely on every day. The recent turnover at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has left many in the medical community wondering how shifting […]
Make Your Voice Heard: Comment on the CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule
By: Sara Hussey, MBA, CAE – ACMS Executive Director (with contributions from the AMA) The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has released the CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule proposed rule (CMS-1832-P), and now is the time for physicians to weigh in. CMS is accepting comments until Friday, September 12, 2025. The American […]
ACMS is Making Physician Wellness Simple to Share with our New Toolkit
By: Melanie Mayer – Operations Coordinator, ACMS and ACMSF Physician wellness can’t just be something we talk about. At the Allegheny County Medical Society (ACMS), we’re making sure doctors have more than one trusted path to care. That’s why we created the Physician Wellness Program (PWP) — a confidential, no-cost way for physicians to connect […]