AADA advocacy at a state level
From the President
By Susan C. Taylor, MD, FAAD, February 1, 2026
Taking care of dermatologists so that they can take care of their patients...and their practices
Dear members,
Advocacy is a key mission of the Academy. On the federal level, our sole advocacy priority has been Medicare physician repayment reform. While we did not see all the results we would have liked last year, I am still proud of the work the AADA and Academy members have done working with their lawmakers on this issue that affects all our lives. You can get involved, too. One of the best ways is to attend the annual AADA Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. Registration for this year’s event — which will be held Sept. 13-15 — will open soon.
A large focus is placed on federal advocacy, but did you know that the Academy also has a strong presence at the state level, and that our efforts have led to major wins this year? It’s easy to overlook state-level advocacy, but like federal advocacy, it is also important.
Truth-in-advertising and scope-of-practice issues are tackled at the state level. Just this year, the AADA has helped defeat legislation that would have allowed pharmacists to test, treat, and prescribe in Indiana, and legislation that would have allowed dentists to administer Botox and fillers for cosmetic purposes in Texas. Thanks to the AADA’s efforts, nurse practitioner independent practice legislation failed in Indiana, South Carolina, and Texas, and physician assistant independent practice legislation failed in South Carolina, Kentucky, and New Mexico. The AADA’s advocacy led to the enactment of Colorado’s Know Your Health-Care Practitioner Act, which requires physicians and non-physician clinicians to disclose their name, the type of state-issued license, and certificate or registration held in advertising and photo identification.
State-level advocacy is also where we tackle step therapy and prior authorization reform, with the AADA’s effort leading to new laws in Alaska and Nebraska, respectively. In New Jersey, the AADA’s advocacy helped with a new law that places guardrails around the use of step-therapy protocols by state-regulated health plans, including Medicaid, and includes provisions of the model bill developed by the AADA and other members of the State Access to Innovative Medications Coalition.
Additionally, the AADA supported the newly enacted New Jersey law requiring school districts to adopt policies concerning students’ use of sunscreen and sun-protective clothing at school and school-sponsored functions, and supported the New Jersey governor’s proposal to exempt sunscreen from the state sales tax. The unifying thread is that the AADA’s advocacy efforts not only help dermatologists but also their patients. I am very proud of these very important accomplishments at the state level.
If you are unable to commit the time and expense to attend the AADA Legislative Conference, it is still possible for you to help with state-level advocacy closer to home. You can visit the AAD state advocacy resources webpage to find out how to contact your state society and to learn more about how much work the Academy does fighting for you all across the country.
Until next time, all my best,
Susan
AADA Legislative Conference
Registration for the AADA Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. — which will be held Sept. 13-15 — will open soon.
